Peaky Blinders: What Is The IRA’s Plan & Why Tommy Works With Them

Warning: Contains spoilers for Peaky Blinders season 6.

The IRA has been a constant background influence throughout the entire Peaky Blinders series, but are now taking a step into the foreground, working directly with Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) in order to advance their own agenda. In season 1, the Irish Republican Party approached the Peaky Blinders, hoping to procure the shipment of guns that the Small Heath gang had happened upon. Since then, they served as both fierce enemies and reluctant allies, depending on how their goals aligned.

In the very first episode of Peaky Blinders season 6, it was revealed that the IRA was behind the foiling of Tommy’s attempted assassination of Sir Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin). In a chilling sequence shortly after Tommy had attempted to take his own life, he received a phone call from a representative of the IRA, referring to herself only as Captain Swing. She informed Tommy that the IRA have made the decision to “restructure” the Peaky Blinders, and in a move that shockingly signified their ruthless intent, they reveal the assassinations of Tommy’s aunt, Polly Shelby (Helen McCrory), and hitman-for-hire Aberama Gold (Aidan Gillen).

Having kicked away Tommy’s “crutch,” the IRA are now once again intending on using the Peaky Blinders as a pawn in order to further their cause. Polly was one of the primary objectors to the Peaky Blinders selling opium to international buyers, as well as being a figure of stability for Tommy to fall back on whenever needed. With her presence no longer influencing Tommy, the future of the Peaky Blinders is considerably more unclear. Here’s the IRA plan explained.

Why The IRA Are Involved In Drugs In Peaky Blinders

The IRA’s interest in Tommy’s opium deal is primarily focused on their desire to raise funds for the procurement of guns. Tommy has valued his supply of opium to be worth five million pounds, with both Alfie Solomons (Tom Hardy) and Jack Nelson (James Frecheville) appearing to be content with such a deal. It is not clear whether the IRA intends to take all the earnings in the venture, or simply a cut of the profit, but regardless, such a large amount of money would no doubt have a drastic effect on the IRA’s war for independence.

In a recent interview (via Digital Spy), Charlene McKenna, the actress who plays IRA contact Laura McKee, notes that her character views both Tommy Shelby and Oswald Mosely as “a bridge to get to the means… and the means are the opium and the weapons, and the end is free Ireland.” This indicates that the IRA is simply happy to utilize whatever means necessary, as long as their end goal can be achieved.

Why Oswald Mosley Is So Important To The IRA

In Peaky Blinders season 6, episode 2, Tommy Shelby comes face to face with Laura, a.k.a. Captain Swing, the IRA contact that first informed Tommy of the forced restructuring of the Peaky Blinders. This interaction reveals some of the motivations behind this uneasy alliance between the IRA and the Peaky Blinders. McKee is ultimately fighting for a free Ireland and is willing to go to any lengths to achieve such a goal. However, she is currently acting on the behalf of certain individuals who are, as Tommy puts it, “actively fighting for a Fascist Ireland.” Through the Peaky Blinder contacts, McKee is hoping to establish communication with Jack Nelson, an influential figure in America who shares fascist sympathies. This is also why the IRA stepped in to stop the assassination of Oswald Mosley, the leader of the British Union of Fascists.

Mosley is rapidly growing in power and popularity within England, and should the IRA and their backers manage to ally with him, it would be a major boost to the cause. Oswald Mosley may also be key in securing the opium deal with Peaky Blinders‘ Jack Nelson, who was revealed to have traveled to London with the mission of finding like-minded Fascist supporters. Mosley and Nelson are yet to meet, but considering their characters, it would appear likely that they would have a lot in common.

Why Tommy Shelby Is Working With The IRA

Given Tommy Shelby’s track record, one could be forgiven for wondering why the enigmatic gangster has not sought to take revenge on the IRA, or at very least Laura McKee, for their role in the murders of Polly and Aberama. However, he instead is now working with the IRA, shifting a huge quantity of opium together. The primary reason for this would appear to be that McKee and the IRA control the port needed for the transport of the opium to America.

The Peaky Blinders have massive amounts of influence over all of England, but hold considerably less outside the country. In order for the opium deal to go through, Tommy is reliant on the IRA to facilitate the transport of goods from their port to the United States. Tommy has repeatedly reiterated that this is the last big criminal deal he will be a part of, claiming that he plans to settle down with Lizzie and their children once it is over. However, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Tommy sought revenge in Peaky Blinders season 6 in some form or other once the deal is complete, as the murder of a family member is rarely left without retribution in the Shelby clan.

Due to the nature of the show, there will undoubtedly be numerous attempts at double-crossing, blackmail, extortion, and more to potentially derail the plan. But for the time being, the IRA and the Peaky Blinders have a mutually beneficial relationship established. Tommy will create lines of communication between McKee’s Fascist backers, Oswald Mosley and Jack Nelson, while McKee will ensure the transportation of the opium to Nelson’s criminal enterprise in the states, taking a cut of the five million in order to fund the purchase of guns for the IRA.

Peaky Blinders releases new episodes every Sunday on BBC.

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