Ireland

Oil painting by Ralph Lillford, 'Irishmen Avenge Irish Dead', Londonderry, 1975

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The Troubles

Troops were sent to Northern Ireland in 1969. They ended up staying there for nearly 40 years in what became the British Army's longest ever deployment.

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Replacement VC group awarded to Private Francis FitzPatrick, 94th Regiment, 1879-1900

Lost and found: A tale of two VCs

The medals of Private Francis Fitzpatrick, an Irish-born Victoria Cross hero, have recently been reunited at the National Army Museum after more than a century of separation.

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British Civil Wars

Fought between 1642 and 1651, these wars were primarily disputes between Crown and Parliament about how the British Isles should be governed. But they also had religious and social dimensions, and witnessed the creation of the first national standing army.

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Nine Years War

Between 1689 and 1697, British soldiers joined a European alliance against French expansionism. At the same time, extensive fighting took place in Scotland and Ireland between the supporters of King William III and the deposed James II.

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The Ulster Defence Regiment

This infantry unit was formed in 1970. It served in Northern Ireland until 1992, when it was merged into The Royal Irish Regiment.

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Cap badge, other ranks, The Royal Irish Rangers, c1970

The Royal Irish Rangers (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd and 87th)

This infantry unit was established in 1968 and recruited in Northern Ireland. It served with the British Army until 1992, when it was merged into The Royal Irish Regiment.

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Cap badge, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers), c1914

The Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's)

This infantry unit was established during the 1881 reforms. It recruited in the Irish province of Ulster and served until 1968 when it was merged into The Royal Irish Rangers.

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Glengarry badge, other ranks, 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers) Regiment, c1874

87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot

This Irish infantry unit was raised in 1793. It served with the British Army until the 1881 reforms, when it was merged into The Royal Irish Fusiliers.

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Glengarry badge, 89th (Princess Victoria’s) Regiment of Foot, c1874

89th (The Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot

This Irish infantry unit was raised in 1793. It served with the British Army until the 1881 reforms, when it was merged into The Royal Irish Fusiliers.

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The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

This Irish infantry unit was established in 1881. Recruiting in Ulster, it existed until 1968, when it was merged into The Royal Irish Rangers.

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27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot

This Irish infantry unit was raised in 1689. It continued in service until the 1881 reforms, when it was merged into The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

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108th Regiment of Foot (Madras Infantry)

This unit was originally raised by the East India Company, but later transferred to British Army service. In 1881, it was merged into The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

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The Royal Irish Rifles

This infantry unit was formed during the 1881 reforms. It continued in British Army service until 1968, when it became part of The Royal Irish Rangers.

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Explore Ireland events

Detail from 'A view of the Engagement at Vinegar Hill, June 21st 1798'

Members Only

9 June 2021, 6.30pm

FREE

The Irish Wars: The Irish Against Napoleon (Lecture 1/3)

In the first of three lectures on Ireland in the Napoleonic Wars, Patrick Mercer OBE traces the development of some of the toughest regiments that Napoleon’s troops had to face.

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Patrons Only

10 June 2021, 6.30pm

FREE

The Pike Dinner

10 June 1798 became known as ‘Pike Sunday’ when Crown forces in Ireland descended en masse, seized hidden pikes and arrested blacksmiths. Join historian Patrick Mercer OBE to find out more about this extraordinary episode in Britain and Ireland’s military history.

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Members Only

21 July 2021, 6.30pm

FREE

The Irish Wars: The Irish Against Napoleon (Lecture 2/3)

In the 18th century, Royalist France had made several plans to invade Britain by first landing troops in Ireland - an ambition which Revolutionary France adopted with gusto.

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Members Only

1 September 2021, 6.30pm

FREE

The Irish Wars: The Irish Against Napoleon (Lecture 3/3)

Whatever political tensions existed in Ireland in the wake of the 1798 and 1803 Rebellions, Irishmen were never slow to join the British Army in the fight against Napoleon.

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