In 1992 the youngest, and much loved, distinguished, Irish Infantry Regiment, successor itself of 3 Irish Regiments of the line (24 years it lasted) and has gone from the order of battle, although the 4th Bn TAVR still carried our name for a further 14 years serving along side The Royal Irish Regiment in Iraq and Afghanistan until 2005, when they became the 2nd Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment TAVR, however we do, and we will always be behind The Royal Irish Regiment promoting recruiting and whatever we can do to help them going forward. That is now our duty

On this website you will read about our 320 years of that history, the bravery, and some of the stories of ours. Sit back with a nice cup of tea or coffee, relax and I will begin:-

The North Irish Brigade was a Brigade of the British Army which existed between 1948 and 1968; it consisted of the three regiments from Northern Ireland (each regiment was reduced to a single battalion on 14th July 1948). After the Second World War there were 14 infantry depots in the United Kingdom, each bearing a letter. The depots were territorially aligned, and Infantry Depot M at Omagh was aligned with the regiments from Northern Ireland.

In 1948, the depots switched to names and this depot became the North Irish Brigade, with all regiments being reduced to a single battalion at the same time.

The North Irish Brigade was formed on 14 July 1948 as an administrative apparatus for the infantry regiments from Northern Ireland namely:-

The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 27th of foot

The Royal Ulster Rifles 83rd of foot

The Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's) 87th of foot

From 1964 the North Irish Brigade was based at St Patrick's Barracks, Ballymena, Northern Ireland which, later became the Depot Royal Irish. The above three regiments were amalgamated into a single large regiment and rebadged from the North Irish Brigade to the Royal Irish Rangers (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd and 87th) On the 1st July 1968, and the North Irish Brigade was united with the Yorkshire and Lancastrian Brigades, to form the King's Division.

On the 1st July 1968 (Known as Vesting Day) saw the birth of the 1st & 2nd Bn's of the Royal Irish Rangers, affectionatly known within other regiments of the British Army and of the public at large as the (Rangers) itself being formed by the amalgamation of the above 3 three proud famous Irish Regiments, passing on all the traditions and history into this new regiment. And with it came a distinctive new uniform, the envy of the British Army and in that Uniform each regiment was represented in one way or another.

The present orbat of the 38 (Irish) Brigade follows:- It is a light role infantry Brigade within the Adaptable Force.

As an Adaptable Force brigade, 38 (Irish) Brigade conducts a wide range of activity.

It trains for and delivers warfighting capabilities; it trains and supports indigenous forces overseas; and it supports local authorities and emergency services in national resilience efforts to mitigate the impact of natural and other disasters in Northern Ireland and the UK.

38 (Irish) Brigade has its headquarters in Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn, Northern Ireland.

The 38th (Irish} Brigade is made up of the following units:-

• 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland

• 2nd Battalion The Rifles

• 7th Battalion The Rifles

• The Band of the Royal Irish Regiment

• B (North Irish Horse) Squadron The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry

• 206 (Ulster) Battery 105 Regiment Royal Artillery

• 591 Field Squadron 71 Engineer Regiment

• 40 (North Irish Horse) Signal Squadron 32 Signal Regiment

• 2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment

• 152 (North Irish) Fuel Support Regiment RLC

• 253 (North Irish) Medical Regiment

• 204 Field Hospital

• 157 Field Company 106 Battalion REME

• 62 Company 5 Military Intelligence Battalion

• Queen’s University Belfast. Officers Training Corps

38 (Irish) Brigade is also responsible for Northern Ireland’s 2000 Army Reservists and 3000 Cadets

If you need any further information