royal irish regiment

jugger0

DylanJM wrote: »

You mean firing on terrorists? I am proudly Irish, but I don't consider terrorists like the IRA as my fellow countrymen.

HA because of course the british army only kills terrorists, what would you have done in the bloody sunday situation? The british goverment has colluded with terrorists in the past, dublin bombings?

jugger0

Chiorino wrote: »

Originally Posted by PatsytheNazi
You'd probably find that those from the above minority's come from a long line of the natives who collaborated with British occupation, it's not surprising that their descendant's should be drawn to the British forces many of whom had to leave with the British colonial administration as it was kicked out.

My great grandfather fought with the ICA in the Stephens green garrison in 1916 and was interned in Frongach afterwards. I joined the British army and served in the Royal Engineers. Not much logic in your argument there pal.

would he be proud of you?

Chiorino

Yes.

jugger0

Chiorino wrote: »

Yes.

My grandfather would shoot me himself, and i wouldnt blame him. Each to their own though.

Chiorino

jugger0 wrote: »

My grandfather would shoot me himself, and i wouldnt blame him. Each to their own though.

My great grandfather would have been enlightened enough to accept a descendant joining the forces of a current neighbouring nation almost a century after the events he took part in.

Also many ICA soldiers joined not primarily to rise up against British rule but to provide armed protection for union demonstrations.

Times have changed and now, thankfully, an Irishman joining the British army is a totally acceptable career joice. While there are some bigots still around thank god they are an extremely small minority.

Dr.Sanchez

Chiorino wrote: »

While there are some bigots still around thank god they are an extremely small minority.

And only seem to be on boards.ie for some reason... :rolleyes:

jugger0

"Also many ICA soldiers joined not primarily to rise up against British rule but to provide armed protection for union demonstrations."

well that clears things up...

To be honest as someone who would like to join an army in the future, i would never consider the british army,i cant believe how an irishman would fight for the british goverment after all they have done,when did they become our lovely neighbours? funny how you fight with ulster unionists who despise the south and would spit on you if you referred to them as irish. A bigoted minority? i would say everyone i know is a bigot so, i guess your a traitor then?

Chiorino

They have always been a neighbour, it's a geographical thing really.

jugger0

Chiorino wrote: »

They have always been a neighbour, it's a geographical thing really.

Being smart? thats not what i meant. Do you sing god save the queen in the army much? do you have union jack boxers?

Chiorino

Never had to sing God save the Queen once actually. You could get Union boxers but had to buy them down the NAAFI.

Dr.Sanchez

jugger0 wrote: »

Being smart? thats not what i meant. Do you sing god save the queen in the army much? do you have union jack boxers?

You have a lot of growing up to do jugger0. You wouldn't last long in any army - Irish or British, being a mouth piece...

jugger0

00Blaine00 wrote: »

You have a lot of growing up to do jugger0. You wouldn't last long in any army - Irish or British, being a mouth piece...

Because i disagree with you im a mouth piece? fair enough.

Chiorino

Jugger0, it's clear what your opinion is. Fine. I am proud of my time served and don't need to justify or explain it to anyone. If you want to argue the whole "Irish joing the BA" issue it's been done to death a number of times already. So, to get back on the topic.

I met a number of Paddies both northern and southern who were in both the RIR and Guards (but not as many as you might imagine). For some reason though the RIR seemed to get loads of Fijians.

00MARTZ00

fijians really? i kinda knew that RIR wasnt exclusively irish but thats a strange one! (im saying that but i dont really know a whole lot about the RIR really just hearsay)

Chiorino

00MARTZ00 fijians really? i kinda knew that RIR wasnt exclusively irish but thats a strange one! (im saying that but i dont really know a whole lot about the RIR really just hearsay)

It may have just been an unusually large amount ( At least that's what struck me ) in the particular unit I was working with. Nowadays though it would be far from being exclusively Irish by a long way.

gizmo555

Chiorino wrote: »

I met a number of Paddies both northern and southern who were in both the RIR and Guards (but not as many as you might imagine). For some reason though the RIR seemed to get loads of Fijians.

According to today's Irish Times,

Eighty men from the Republic serve in the Royal Irish, with most of the remainder hailing from Northern Ireland or places such as Liverpool that have a strong history of Irish emigration.

Just 5 per cent of the Irish Guards are currently from the Republic, though numbers are rising, due in part to the recession but also, more importantly, due to curbed recruiting by the Irish Army and the small number of overseas missions for those in its ranks.

tac foley

Holders of the highest military award for valour in the face of the enemy - mostly pinned on the black of the widow's dress -

Crimean War - 30

Indian Mutiny - 52

Interim Wars - 46

WW1 - 37

WW2 - 8

As for fighting in America's wars - 258 Irish-born holders are remembered with honour, including no less than EIGHT who won it TWICE.

Irishmen everywhere should be proud that Ireland has always had its Wild Geese heroes - even if you believe that they were somebody else's wars.

tac

Corsendonk

Well if you doing a list of Irish that served overseas you might as well include the soldiers of fortune! Such men as Mike Hoare.

tac foley

Corsendonk wrote: »

Well if you doing a list of Irish that served overseas you might as well include the soldiers of fortune! Such men as Mike Hoare.

Please read my post - re: 'Wild geese'.

I have ignored mercenaries per se, but kept my figures to those who chose to serve in other regular armies. Whether or not mercenaries are as deserving of recognition for their bravery as sworn soldiers of national armed forces are is not part of this debate. Is it?

You could, I suppose, accuse every Irishman who has served in the BA of being a mercenary, but I wouldn't like to walk into a pub full of former BA soldiers - who just happened to be Irish - and say it.

tac

iceage

[Deleted]

Rebelheart

iceage wrote: »

The simple answer to this one is of course yes.

Actually, in reality a tiny number of people from the Republic of Ireland join the British Army. Give us statistics on the number of Irish-born people in the British forces. Saying the number has increased by, say, 50% without mentioning that it has gone from 10 to 15 people is just propagandising. A mere 5% of the so-called Irish Guards today is from the Republic of Ireland.(Source)

iceage wrote: »

there are a lot of 2nd and 3rd Generation guys, plastic paddy's like like myself.... The Regt. is populated with people from all over the British Isles, and much further afield.

And use of this term succinctly sums up the politics of the sort of people who join the British Army.

troubleshooter

Rebelheart wrote: »

Actually, in reality a tiny number of people from the Republic of Ireland join the British Army. Give us statistics on the number of Irish-born people in the British forces. Saying the number has increased by, say, 50% without mentioning that it has gone from 10 to 15 people is just propagandising. A mere 5% of the so-called Irish Guards today is from the Republic of Ireland.(Source)



And use of this term succinctly sums up the politics of the sort of people who join the British Army.

You dont know anyone and I doubt you have even met anyone serving in the BA, yet on the other thread you state they are the dregs of the society, along with other false accusations, now you claim to know the minds of those who join from the republic, why dont you wonder off back to whatever rock you have crawled out from.

Many in the Irish guards are from the north and second generation Irish, but to uber Orish republicans like yourself they dont count as Irish do they.


About 250 Citizens from the republic serve in the UK armed forces, 80 in the Royal Irish, there has been a 20% increase.

One regiment that is now being chosen which previously was not is the Parachute Regiment.

Many who join previously served in the Irish army.

iceage

Rebelheart wrote: »

And use of this term succinctly sums up the politics of the sort of people who join the British Army.

Sorry were you trying to make a point? I seem to have completely missed it. If I was referring to the ROI I would have said so. I was in fact referring to the other major bits ie. England, Scotland and Wales, and lets not forget Northern Ireland.

As to the "sort" that joins the British Army well, when you actually meet one, you should ask them what their Political leanings are. I'd politely suggest you ask in the correct fashion, and prepare yourself for some thought provoking answers.

tac foley

Please ask me about MY politics - I was in the British Army for ten days less than 33 years, notwithstanding that my father was imprisoned as a young man for burning down police barracks in Co Cork, and subsequently joined the Free State Army on his release.

My maternal grandfather, W. V. Collins, a soldier in an Irish regiment, was killed in action 1917, and two of my uncles died over Germany in 1944. My current crop of relatives are spread from Cork up to Meath.

In answer to the question, I have absolutely no political views whatsoever that are any concern of anybody except the person who eventually checks my ballot paper. As a soldier I always held ALL politicians in equal contempt and mistrust - any organisation that can cheerfully send young men and women to get killed to express 'severe discontent' with another government deserves no less.

As for your suggestion that the citizens of Northern Ireland might not be quite as Irish as you plainly feel yourself to be, instead of asking a soldier about his politics, try going into a pub anywhere in Northern Ireland, especially in Co's Armagh, Fermanagh and Tyrone, and telling the drinkers there that they are not 'real' Irishmen like you are.

Before you do so, remember to save an old crisp bag.

You'll need it to put your teeth in.

tac

iceage

And there I was trying to be polite and diplomatic. Why I outta...:p

jugger0

"As for your suggestion that the citizens of Northern Ireland might not be quite as Irish as you plainly feel yourself to be, instead of asking a soldier about his politics, try going into a pub anywhere in Northern Ireland, especially in Co's Armagh, Fermanagh and Tyrone, and telling the drinkers there that they are not 'real' Irishmen like you are."

How about you go into a loyalist area and tell them that they are Irish and see what happens.

tac foley

jugger0 wrote: »

How about you go into a loyalist area and tell them that they are Irish and see what happens.

You have just summed up the root source of the past, and it seems, the sadly increasing present problem that has returned to haunt us all [see the news about an under-car bomb this morning].

Some of the inhabitants of Northern Ireland want to be more Irish than they feel they are, and some want to be less. It does not alter the fact that all born in Ireland, whatever part of it you call home, are Irish.

As for politics, it has to be said that I've never met anybody in my entire military career who joined because of his political view. Politics and politicians have no place in the military, unless, of course, you are talking about military dictatorships. In fact, political party tub-thumping of any kind is expressly forbidden in any part of HM Forces, either by its members, or by civilians from outside trying to influence the political opinion of a member of the Armed Forces. True, those in government responsible for defecne issues and their shadow counterparts DO visit the Armed Forces on 'fact-finding' missions, but only the serving government can make any changes to the way that things are done in the Armed Forces. We are all treated as civilians when polling day comes, in exactly the same way that we are tax-payers and civilian firearms certificate holders.

In recent times it was a Conservative government that sent us to the Falklands and GW1, but a Labour government that sent us to GW2 and Afghanistan.

tac

jugger0

tac foley wrote: »

It does not alter the fact that all born in Ireland, whatever part of it you call home, are Irish.

I disagree.

tac foley

jugger0 wrote: »

I disagree.

Fill yer boots, pal.

My DGAS-meter has now reached overload.

tac

jugger0

I was born in a hospital, am i a doctor? unionists dont see themselves as irish, and their not, suprised you didnt know that seeing as you served with them? If everyone in the north saw themselves as irish it would be great. Not the case though.

LordSutch

tac foley wrote: »

Some of the inhabitants of Northern Ireland want to be more Irish than they feel they are, and some want to be less. It does not alter the fact that all born in Ireland, whatever part of it you call home, are Irish.

Well its not quite as clear cut as that, I mean to say if one is going through an airport or ferry terminal holding a British passport then usually you would answer 'British' if asked your nationality by the security personell, OK it is a debatable point, but usually if you are the holder of a certain brand of passport, wether 'British or Irish' then you are what you proclaim you are . . . . .

Wicklowrider

tac foley wrote: »

As for politics, it has to be said that I've never met anybody in my entire military career who joined because of his political view. Politics and politicians have no place in the military,
tac

Agree 100% - a soldier who cannot operate without political bias is worthless in his profession.In a Democracy the government may change several times during a soldiers service - whats he going to do? Down tools until the next political change comes along?

troubleshooter

jugger0 wrote: »

I disagree.

And what gives you the right judge people born in Ireland if they are Irish or not?

troubleshooter

jugger0 wrote: »

I was born in a hospital, am i a doctor? unionists dont see themselves as irish, and their not, suprised you didnt know that seeing as you served with them? If everyone in the north saw themselves as irish it would be great. Not the case though.

Many unionists do see themselves as Irish, even Ian Paisley has said he is Irish, but also British.

Unionists are starting to embrace Irish culture like st pats day again, after 3 decades of attempted ethnic cleansing.

troubleshooter

LordSutch wrote: »

Well its not quite as clear cut as that, I mean to say if one is going through an airport or ferry terminal holding a British passport then usually you would answer 'British' if asked your nationality by the security personell, OK it is a debatable point, but usually if you are the holder of a certain brand of passport, wether 'British or Irish' then you are what you proclaim you are . . . . .

Der, maybe thats cause it says British passport on the cover.

On page two it states in Welsh, English and Irish, united kingdom of great Britain and NI.

Rioghachd aonaichte bhreatainn is eireann a tirth

jugger0

troubleshooter wrote: »

And what gives you the right judge people born in Ireland if they are Irish or not?

Being born somewhere doesnt mean sh1t. Unionists, the majority anyway, despise being called irish, and to be honest im glad, i wouldnt want to be the same nationality as them.

jugger0

troubleshooter wrote: »

Unionists are starting to embrace Irish culture like st pats day again, after 3 decades of attempted ethnic cleansing.

oh please, i cant see them dropping july 12th to go drink a few green pints down the pub with the "fenians". Or indeed any of them wearing gaa jerseys anytime soon. Its a nice thought though.

oglaigh

Jesus christ, the military section has just become a hangout for those who hate/dislike/etc etc british people who either start threads to bitch or use any thread even slightly related to the UK to bitch about how the british have wronged Ireland in some way.
Its getting completely out of hand at this point, and while criticizing mods is never a good idea I have to say that they really need to do something more.

Zambia

Na I like to see it.

The for Joinings always seem like level headed blokes facing reality of irelands current climate.

The against seem to be pure rants dragging up the past using words like hate, ashamed and disgusted.

Reminds me why I no longer live in either Northern or Southern Ireland.

troubleshooter

jugger0 wrote: »

Being born somewhere doesnt mean sh1t. Unionists, the majority anyway, despise being called irish, and to be honest im glad, i wouldnt want to be the same nationality as them.

Once again, what gives you the right to judge people born in Ireland in terms of being irish or not?

Who the fcuk do you think you are? Telling people what their birth right is.

jugger0

troubleshooter wrote: »

Once again, what gives you the right to judge people born in Ireland in terms of being irish or not?

Who the fcuk do you think you are? Telling people what their birth right is.

Once again im saying that just because someone is born somewhere ie Ireland, doesnt mean their irish, as in they dont see themselves as irish, so why are you saying they are? they see themselves as british not irish. If somebody says their irish im not gonna disagree with them, its great when people of other countries want to live here and be "irish" the unionists dont want to be irish, otherwise we would have one country at this stage.

troubleshooter

jugger0 wrote: »

Once again im saying that just because someone is born somewhere ie Ireland, doesnt mean their irish, as in they dont see themselves as irish, so why are you saying they are? they see themselves as british not irish. If somebody says their irish im not gonna disagree with them, its great when people of other countries want to live here and be "irish" the unionists dont want to be irish, otherwise we would have one country at this stage.

Of course you can be Irish and British. They have been here 400 years, of course they are Irish.

Infact their version of Irish with its history and symbolism, is much older then the post 1921 version.

Dont tell me the RIR are not Irish.

Zambia

I am eligible for a british passport and I have an irish one so I can second that.

emptyshed

And the most off track...and probably most silly thread award goes to???


How about a thread on ....do any Welsh people join the Welsh regiments?

RONSEAL...DOES WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN!!

concussion

Relevant article from the Irish Times about the RIR and Irish Guards.

With little “excitement” on offer in the Irish Army, young Irishmen are queuing up to join British regiments. Next month, hundreds of them will go to war in Afghanistan. London Editor MARK HENNESSY meets the Irish soldiers who have enlisted in the British army

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2010/0731/1224275874706.html?via=mr

Maj Mickey Stewart (on right) of the Irish Guards From Bray, Co Wicklow speaks to members of the British Army

gizmo555

concussion wrote: »

Relevant article from the Irish Times about the RIR and Irish Guards.

Yeah, that's the one where a sergeant in the RIR declares that the Irish Army is "bored, fat and lazy" . . .

tac foley

Heavens above - what's that? A REAL Irishman from a REAL town in REAL Ireland - a Major [Company Commander or Batallion 2 i/c] in the Irish Guards, part of the prestigious Guards Division of the British Army?

Naaaaaw, must be a publicity stunt.

Just as I was with MY [incomprehensible] Irish name tag in the British Army for almost thirty-three years all but a week.

'“My soldiers are not stepping off to Afghanistan with the words of the prime minister ringing in their ears,” says Lieut Col Weir, “they are going because the guy next to them is going.”

Sums it all up, really.

tac

ShaneW1986

Hey xxboylarzxx im am actualy looking into join this regiment, and I am from Monaghan, if you are serious about joining and already havent, get in touch lad and I will answer any question I can for you. Also join up with you if you dont want to do it alone.

I feel I was let down my our countrys millitary, it was a job that i wanted more than anything but because of attending collage and then the frezze on recruiting i got one oppertunity before i was to old to join and that was last october! The way I feel I was let down was that there were 40 postions and over 1250 people applied, people who have no intrest in makeing a carrer out of it! (I didnt get in just in case that wasnt apparent)

I must addmit that almost 1/2 of my friends are in the PDF army. And when I worridly told them that i was considering joing the British Army, due to thinking they would hate me for it! I couldnt belive how many of them were intrested in coming with me due to what they told me was a lack of prospects in the Irish PDF. So far there are 3 that are so serious about it they have already spoken to their own familys to see how they feel about it! And not one family has been upset about their want for change! All 3 familys were from a IRA border town and all 3 were catholic, all though I dont feel this is any factor as some people like to make it seem it is.

As for me call me what you want my father is from Monaghan and my mother is from Bangor. Both my Grandfather and Great Grandfather servered in the British Army during WW1 and WW2 and they were proud Irish men if you called them British they would tell you no they were Irish! I will be proud to serve it as well even though it wasnt my first choice. At least they are offering me the oppertunity to do what i want!

Think what you want but at the end of the day a soilder looks at the army as a job and lifestyle, not that he is makeing a sacered oath against his country!

I am proud to be IRISH!

http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/4955.aspx

groundshaker

Well ShaneW1986, great to see you're interested in joining up, but have you considered joining the Irish Guards? Another great Irish regiment

pablomakaveli

I'm hoping to join the Royal Irish as well. I'm going up to the North next month to do my BARB test.