Irish Army
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The regular army of the Republic of Ireland has 8,500 personnel, and is divided primarily into three infantry brigades, each responsible for a geographical area of the country:
Brigade_Organisation_Map.JPG
| 1 Southern Brigade | 2 Eastern Brigade | 4 Western Brigade |
| HQ 1 Southern Brigade | HQ 2 Eastern Brigade | HQ 4 Western Brigade |
| 3 Infantry Battalion | 2 Infantry Battalion | 1 Infantry Battalion |
| 4 Infantry Battalion | 5 Infantry Battalion | 6 Infantry Battalion |
| 12 Infantry Battalion | 27 Infantry Battalion | 28 Infantry Battalion |
| 1 Cavalry Squadron | 2 Cavalry Squadron | 4 Cavalry Squadron |
| 1 Field Artillery Regiment | 2 Field Artillery Regiment | 4 Field Artillery Regiment |
| 1 Field Engineer Company | 2 Field Engineer Company | 4 Field Engineer Company |
| 1 Logistic Support Battalion | 2 Logistic Support Battalion | 4 Logistic Support Battalion |
| 1 Field Communications Information Service Company | 2 Field Communications Information Service Company | 4 Field Communications Information Service Company |
| 1 Brigade Military Police Company | 2 Brigade Military Police Company | 4 Brigade Military Police Company |
| 1 Brigade Training Centre | 2 Brigade Training Centre | 4 Brigade Training Centre |
In addition to the three brigades, there is also the Defence Forces Training Centre, which is responsible for providing professional training to Ireland's defence forces through three separate colleges:
- Military College
- Combat Support College
- Combat Service Support College
There are also several units located at the DFTC that are not part of the brigade structure:
- Operational Units
- Army Ranger Wing (Sciathán Fianóglach an Airm)
- 1 Air Defence Regiment
- Support Units
- Service Support Unit
- Defence Force Logistics Base
- Military Police Company
Famous former Irish Regiments
Irish_regts.JPG
Prior to 1922 and the foundation of the Irish Free State, many Irish soldiers served with distinction in regiments of the British Army. Among the regiments that disappeared on independence included:
- Connaught Rangers
- Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment
- Royal Dublin Fusiliers
- Royal Munster Fusiliers
- South Irish Horse
The modern Irish Army is descended from the Irish Republican Army that fought for independence, and formed the initial Irish Free State Force under General Michael Collins, fighting on the pro-treaty side in the Irish Civil War. It included many former National Volunteers who served in Irish Regiments in World War 1, rather than the units that fought under the British Crown.
See Also
- Irish Defence Forces
- FCÁ
- Irish Army Home Page (http://www.military.ie/army/index.html)