Royal Irish Regiment face top Taliban fighters in Afghanistan

Irish fighting the taliban but is not the Irish Army the 'civilized' face of UN peace keep forces? Oh I see it's the British Army -thanks for making that clear-NOT.

Southernpride: You didn't tell us what the Munster Brigade is. Is it an imaginary unit for when you play toy soldiers with your friends?

Every goverment No 1 responsibility is to protect it's citizens. The irish goverment protected thousands of innocent irish, law abiding citizens from being murdered by IRA terrorists

Southern Pride - you mean the 'National Army' of course. Who also commited heinous acts of atrocity during the Civil War. You perhaps have forgotten about the 77 sanctioned and around 153 'unauthorised' murders and executions of Republicans by The Free State. Murder is Ok as long as it is your own doing the murdering, eh? Clearly we can look back today and if they were not a 'terrorist' government (using terror tactics) then they would certainly qualify in a similar vein with the Nazi-murderers to come, as butchers.

The Irish army protected Irish citizens during the civil war in the South. 27 September – The Free State's Provisional Government puts the "Public Safety Bill" before the Dáil, setting up military courts which allow for the execution of IRA terrorists captured bearing arms against the state and aiding and abetting attacks on state forces. It passes by 48 votes to 18. The Irish Labour Party oppose it.

Lets look at this Regiments history,they are the result of a merger of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,The Royal Ulster Rifles and The Royal Irish Fusiliers In 1968 who then became the Royal Irish Rangers, and it seemed to me that they were made up mostly of errant teddy boys who vouched for service rather than six months in the Nick, Their HQ was a large council estate in the centre of Ballymena Co Antrim. I remember them well as they kicked about the town, Coming from School I used to cross the street upon meeting a bunch of them coming along the same side to avoid a punch in the ear which seemed mandatory for a young lad meeting this bunch, There was quite a lot of lads from the Republic in the ranks back then too you would hear the accents from time to time.In 1992 the Rangers Merged with what had been up to then a part time force the Ulster Defence Regiment or the UDR To become the Royal Irish Regiment. The UDR of course was set up to Placate the Loyalists in Northern Ireland and somewhat Compensate them for the Dissolution of the A' and B' Specials which had been disbanded early in the Troubles 1969 - 1999 because they had been thoroughly discredited as being an extremely Pro Loyalist anti Catholic Force responsible for countless acts of violence and murder against the Roman Catholic Minority, Well Their members simply crossed the street so to speak and joined the newly formed UDR, And so this new Regiment started of life as a Kick the Pope force and many of its members who were able to take their weapons home were to be responsible for a raft of heinous crimes during the life of this mainly Protestant Regiment, and of course they now call themselves the Royal Irish Regiment.....But some of us call them something else..

The Irish Army is a group of unemployed farmers sons who are used by the Banks in Ireland to protect their money as they move it to the laundrying points so as the directors of those said banks can distribute the money to their wives and mistresses throughout the country. That is the only function of the Irish Army.....Ohh and they can clear snow in a bad winter...But as Ireland is a Neutral Gelded war shy country turning mostly Gay there is no real need for an Army anyhoo..

SouPride: What's "the Munster brigade"? Never heard of it. What army is it? The Salvation Army?

why dont they join the irish army ?

Royal Irish Regiment face top Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. As an x Irish soldier in the Munster brigade I'm so proud of our Royal Irish regiment fighting for freedom

Why is a story about the British Army on an Irish-American site? I have no interest in these mercenaries.

Thats what they like to do-fight,the Irish regiments always did.