The Irish Defence Forces, 1922-2022: Servants of the Nation

Tracing its history to the foundation of the Irish Volunteers in 1913, the Irish Defence Forces has evolved beyond recognition from the force that emerged in tandem with the new state in 1922. Plunged immediately into chaos of a bitter civil war, the path to a modern, professional Defence Forces during the 1920s and 1930s was rarely smooth, with progression hampered by internal dissent, political manoeuvrings and limited financial investment. The difficulties of creating and maintaining a force capable of defending the neutrality of a small island nation, with a geopolitical and strategic importance that belied its size, were brought home during the Emergency. Nonetheless, the state’s desire to maintain its neutrality as global politics became increasingly polarised in the post-war years allowed new opportunities to develop. Following Ireland’s accession to the United Nations in 1955, the Defence Forces emerged as a core member of the UN’s peacekeeping efforts, concurrently developing as a vital element of Ireland’s international relations. The Defence Forces’ duties in aid of the civil power became ever more vital with the outbreak of violence in Northern Ireland in 1969.