Category Archives: Irish Defence Forces

Ireland’s Wars: Third Ypres And Langemarck

Posted on Jan 9, 2018 by NFB

Following the notable success in the seizing of the Messines Ridge, an operation where Irish soldiers played a significant role, the British eyed up a grander offensive, that would morph into the Third Battle of Ypres, known better in some … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Ireland's Wars, Irish Defence Forces, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Review: The Siege Of Jadotville

Posted on Sep 23, 2016 by NFB

The Siege Of Jadotville Trailer Believe you me, this is one of the most surprising films I have come across ever. The story of the Irish peacekeepers at Jadotville is one that is bizarrely unknown even in Ireland, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Irish Defence Forces, Reviews, TV/Movies, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

The Defence Forces (3 Days To Election)

Posted on Feb 23, 2016 by NFB

So, my last issue post is one that’s very much of a personal interest, and a little self-indulgent on my part I’ll admit, but whatever, that’s what a blogs for. I’ve always had an interest in military history and the … Continue reading →

Posted in General Election 2016, Ireland, Irish Defence Forces, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Revolutionary Remembrance: Options For Ship Names (That Aren’t Poets)

Posted on Sep 20, 2013 by NFB

Something a little different for this post series today, focusing on a very specific possibility for remembrance. The Irish Naval Service has the unfortunate problem of being largely anonymous to most Irish people. It’s task as a constabulary navy is … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Ireland, Irish Defence Forces, Revolutionary Remembrance, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Revolutionary Remembrance: “Óglaigh na hÉireann”

Posted on Jan 10, 2013 by NFB

When one hears the words “Óglaigh na hÉireann”, one can be forgiven for immediately thinking of the terrorist organizations that have come to be associated with it. Those three words have a torturous history, stretching as far back as the … Continue reading →

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Revolutionary Remembrance: The ARR’s Of The Irish Civil War

Posted on Aug 22, 2012 by NFB

On the 90th anniversary of the Beal na Mblath shooting, the usual platitudes and speeches were trotted out in an annual festival that has become largely meaningless due to its regularity. I usually pay the FG historical love-in little mind … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Ireland, Irish Defence Forces, Revolutionary Remembrance, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The RAND COIN Scorecard And The Irish War Of Independence

Posted on Apr 11, 2012 by NFB

The RAND think tank, last year, came up with a “scorecard” method of reviewing counter-insurgency campaigns. The scorecard ranks a COIN campaign in terms of “good” and “bad” practices that take place by the actual COIN force and the insurgents … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Counter Insurgency (COIN), History, Iraq, Ireland, Irish Defence Forces, Politics, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Suicidal Obstinacy”: Max Hastings And Irish Neutrality In The Second World War

Posted on Jan 24, 2012 by NFB

The title comes from American writer Joe Dees, who so described the policy of Irish neutrality in the Second World War. I’ve been meaning to write something like this for a while, but it was the book this quotation was … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Ireland, Irish Defence Forces, Politics, War | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

What The Irish Defence Forces Did This Year

Posted on Dec 30, 2011 by NFB

This year: The Irish Defence Forces disabled over 50 viable explosive devices. The Irish Defence Forces carried out nearly 2’000 high security escorts. The Irish Defence Forces continued to provide security at Portlaoise prison. The Irish Defence Forces deployed 3’000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Ireland, Irish Defence Forces | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Jadotville

Posted on Sep 14, 2011 by NFB

We are currently in the middle of the fiftieth anniversary of the Siege of Jadotville. It is very possible, even likely, that you will never have heard of it. In September 1961, as part of the UN peacekeeping effort in … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Ireland, Irish Defence Forces, War | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments