The Irish Regiment of Canada

About

The Irish Regiment of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army based in Sudbury, Ontario. It is part of the 4th Canadian Division's 33 Canadian Brigade Group. Currently one battalion of the regiment exists. The Irish regiment was founded in 1915 with headquarters in Toronto. The modern incarnation was formed in Sudbury in 1965 by the conversion of the 58th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA, which became 2nd Battalion, Irish Regiment of Canada. At the same time, the original battalion in Toronto was reduced to nil strength and placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle as the 1st Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada. In 1931 they became the only kilted Irish Regiment in the world with the adoption of their unique tartan often called "O'Saffron" designed by Thomas Gordon Ltd. of Glasgow. (Irish regiments in the British Army utilize kilted pipers wearing a solid-coloured saffron kilt.) They also share the caubeen headdress common to other Irish regiments. The badge and hackle are worn above the right eye, with the left side of the caubeen pulled down – the opposite of the way berets are worn.

The regimental colour of 2nd Battalion, Irish Regiment of Canada.

The camp flag of the Irish Regiment of Canada.

- Authorized on 15 October 1915 as the 110th Irish Regiment

- Redesignated 1 May 1920 as The Irish Regiment

- Redesignated 1 September 1932 as the Irish Regiment of Canada

- Amalgamated 15 December 1936 with the headquarters and A Company of the 1st Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC, and redesignated as the Irish Regiment of Canada (Machine Gun)

- Redesignated 12 August 1940 as the Irish Regiment of Canada

- Redesignated 7 November 1940 as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, the Irish Regiment of Canada

- Redesignated 31 January 1946 the Irish Regiment of Canada

- Reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle 10 February 1965

- Amalgamated 15 March 1965 with the 58th (Sudbury) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA. The artillery unit was converted to infantry and redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, the Irish Regiment of Canada (Sudbury), with the unit transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle being automatically redesignated as the 1st Battalion, the Irish Regiment of Canada.

- Originated 1 June 1919 in Toronto, Ontario as the 1st Machine Gun Brigade, CMGC

- Redesignated 15 September 1924 as the 1st Machine Gun Battalion, CMGC

- Amalgamated 15 December 1936 with the Irish Regiment of Canada

The 58th (Sudbury) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA

- Originated 1 April 1946 in Sudbury, Ontario as the 49th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA

- Redesignated 3 July 1947 as the 58th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA

- Redesignated 15 March 1948 as the 58th (Sudbury) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA

- Redesignated 12 April 1960 as the 58th (Sudbury) Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, RCA