Harp and Crown

To mark the centenary of the disbandment of British Army units that traditionally recruited in southern Ireland, this temporary pop-up display explores the history of Irish regiments and their soldiers.
The Irish Regiments of the British Army, 1897

The Irish Regiments of the British Army, 1897

To mark the centenary of the disbandment of British Army units that traditionally recruited in southern Ireland, this temporary pop-up display explores the history of Irish regiments and their soldiers.

A hundred years ago, the creation of the Irish Free State (now the Republic of Ireland) led to the disbandment of six regiments of the British Army which had traditionally recruited there. This moment is of special significance to the National Army Museum, as material inherited from five of these units forms one of the Museum’s foundational collections.

To commemorate the event, this special display explores the history of Irish regiments and their soldiers from the 17th century to the present day.

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Video

The Story of the Disbanded Irish Regiments

In 1922, the creation of the Irish Free State (now the Republic of Ireland) led to the disbandment of six regiments of the British Army which had traditionally recruited there. This video provides a brief overview of their story.