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Description

Born in the Civil War of 1922–23, the army of the Republic of Ireland occupied a sensitive place in the national culture for many years.

In World War II, it faced the challenge of maintaining Ireland's integrity as a neutral. Post-war, it found a new role in 1960, providing troops for the United Nations intervention in the war-torn Congo; and since then has supported UN missions in the Middle East and elsewhere. More recently the border with troubled Ulster obliged the Republic to invest in reform and modernisation.

Ireland's freedom to seek examples and equipment worldwide has created an interesting progression of uniforms, illustrated in this study of Ireland's forces over 80 years.

Table of Contents

Formation of Free State national army
Civil War 1922-23
The diminished force of the 1930s
The political background to the volunteer Territorial Force
The Treaty Ports & Forts handed back in 1938
World War II: the difficulties of neutrality - the Emergency Army & Local Defence Force - the eight invasion scares
Post-war reorganisation
Peace-keeping missions
Border security & counter-terrorism since 1968
The controversial EU commitment

Product details

Published 20 Feb 2012
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 48
ISBN 9781780963914
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 36 b/w; 8 col
Series Men-at-Arms
Short code MAA 417
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Donal MacCarron

Donal MacCarron is an established military and avi…

Illustrator

Bill Younghusband

Bill Younghusband was born in 1936. He was educate…

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