Ireland's Military Story

Category: Irish Guards

  • Carrickfergus Castle Hosts Massed Irish Bands

    Carrickfergus Castle Hosts Massed Irish Bands

    Carrickfergus Castle Hosts Massed Irish Bands

    Photos by Patrick Hugh Lynch

    First posted 9 September

    For the first time in 35 years the massed bands of the four Irish regiments of the British Army joined together on Saturday last to perform at Carrickfergus Castle, Co. Antrim. The beautiful ancient Norman Castle on the northern shore of Belfast Lough provided the backdrop to the Irish Guards and The The Royal Irish Regiment, alongside the pipes and drums of The Royal Dragoon Guards and The Queen’s Royal Hussars. There was also a special performance from a choir of Fijian soldiers who serve in the Irish regiments. Belfast Lough was filled with the sound of military music and marches such as Killaloe and St. Patrick’s Day.

    A selection of images of the Massed Irish Bands at Carrickfergus Castle by Patrick Hugh Lynch. You can check out his full album on Flickr.

    The oldest of the Irish regiments is the Irish Guards, fondly called ‘The Micks’; one of the Foot Guards regiments part of the Guards Division. It were formed on 1 April 1900 by order of Queen Victoria to commemorate the Irishmen who fought in the Second Boer War for the British Empire. The Royal Irish Regiment was formed in 1992 through the amalgamation of the Royal Irish Rangers and the Ulster Defence Regiment. The regiment has a lineage to the 27th Regiment of Foot, which was first raised in June 1689 to fight in the Williamite War in Ireland; the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Royal Irish Rifles and the Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria’s). The Royal Dragoon Guards was formed in 1992 by the amalgamation of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. The Queen’s Royal Hussars was formed in 1993 from the amalgamation of the Queen’s Own Hussars and the Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars.

    The Massed Bands start playing from 1.09.30 into the video you can watch by clicking on the link below.

    This project is supported by The Dept. of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner’s Office. A special thank you to the Royal Irish Regiment and the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

  • New Mascot For Irish Guards

    New Mascot For Irish Guards

    New Mascot For Irish Guards – Welcome into Service Turlough Mór (Séamus)

    Images from Irish Guards and Army in London HQ Facebook page Victoria Jones/PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo.

    At a ceremony at Wellington Barracks on Thursday, the Irish Guards welcomed the arrival of their new Irish Wolfhound mascot, Turlough Mór (Séamus). The six month old Regimental Mascot was acquired from his breeder in North Yorkshire in late October. As with the 16 mascots before him, he is named after an Irish chieftain. Toirdhealbhach Mór Ua Conchobhair (anglicised Turlough Mór O’Connor / O’Conor), was King of Connacht from 1106 to 1156 and High King of Ireland circa 1120 to 1156. The regimental mascot will be known by his kennel name Séamus.

    Drummer Alan Walsh with Séamus at Wellington Barracks.

    Séamus has spent four weeks with his new handler, Drummer Adam Walsh, from Dublin, at the Royal Army Veterinary Corps Training Centre, Melton Mowbray. Séamus was formally handed over to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards from Regimental Headquarters by the Regimental Adjutant Major (Retd) Niall Hall MVO. The young mascot has already begun his military familiarisation training to military ceremony and music at Wellington Barracks. He will now join the 1st Battalion at Cavalry Barracks Hounslow. He is due to make his first formal engagement on St. Patrick’s Day when traditionally HRH The Duchess of Cambridge distributes shamrock to the regiment. Séamus will have to wait to meet the rest of the battalion as they are on deployment to Liverpool in support of the NHS Covid-19 response. The regiment will be returning to State Ceremonial and Public Duties early in 2022 and no doubt Séamus will be front and centre.