2nd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment (2 R IRISH)

Northern Ireland’s only Worldwide Infantry Reserve, 2 R Irish provides trained infantry reinforcements to the Regular Army, in particular to 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, on operational deployments worldwide.

In 2008, 2 R IRISH provided a Company of 110 volunteer soldiers to deploy to Helmand Province in Afghanistan.  Over a 6 month period they performed a number of key infantry roles, including conducting offensive operations against the Taliban from a front-line Patrol Base, flying as close protection to heliborne medical emergency teams and defending crucial bases against enemy attack. 

As an infantry battalion our primary role is to recruit and train infantry soldiers – specialists in dismounted combat.  We also have vacancies for clerks, chefs, vehicle mechanics and medical personnel attached to 2 R IRISH.

We train on a Thursday night in all the TA Centres and at least one weekend and one Sunday per month.