Page 18 - Defence Forces Pictorial History

1946/1960
Post Emergency Years
Óglaigh na hÉireann
The Defence Forces

t the end of the Emergency the strength of the Defence
Forces was reduced to an establishment of 12,500. The
A Regular Army was now composed of three Brigades, one
in each Command. By March 1947 strength had dropped to
8,803.

To capitalise on the Emergency experience An Fórsa Cosanta
Áitiúl (FCÁ) replaced the Local Defence Force. The declaration
of a Republic in April 1949 saw no change however to the
governments defence policy. Poor conditions and lack of
equipment led to a period of stagnation that remained until the
onset of overseas service.

In December 1956 the IRA Border Campaign got underway
and concentrated on attacks on British Army barracks and
RUC stations. In response elements of the Defence Forces were
moved to the border. By March 1962 the campaign had ended.
In 1959 the FCÁ was integrated with the Regular Army. Six
Brigades of mixed Regular and FCÁ units, each with only one
Regular Infantry Battalion were established.

Ireland became a member of the United Nations in 1955 and
in 1958 sent military observers on a UN mission to the Middle
East (UNOGIL). This was the beginning of the Defence Forces
involvement in overseas service, which continues to this day.

A Pictorial History of Óglaigh na hÉireann, the Defence Forces of Ireland