The Irish Guards cherish their Irish cultural roots, and wherever they are based across the world, they celebrate St Patrick’s Day in style. In this, their 125th anniversary year, they made 17 March 2025 extra special with a Royal parade with their Colonel HRH The Princess of Wales in London and a battlefield service with Ukrainian recruits in Eastern England.
High Royal Highness the Princess of Wales hands a shamrock to the Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, Lt Col Irwin-Clark.
A Ukrainian soldier is presented a shamrock by an Officer from the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards on a parade held at Bodney Camp in Norfolk in celebration of St Patrick’s Day.
A Guardsman of 1st Battalion Irish Guards pins on his shamrock.
A Ukrainian soldier attaches a shamrock to his jacket during Operation Interflex.
Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales stokes the Irish Guards Mascot Turlough Mor, affectionately known as Seamus, as he receives his shamrock.
The Irish Guards Mascot Turlough Mor, affectionately known as Seamus on parade
Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales chats with the Commanding officer and the RSM in the Sergeants' Mess.
The combined band of the Irish Guards and the Pipes and Drums perform on parade.
In London, the Irish Guards’ Colonel, HRH The Princess of Wales, joined the Irish Guards’ Mascot Turlough Mor, their veterans, families, serving soldiers, reservists, and young cadets from Northern Ireland, at a special parade and celebration at Wellington Barracks.
Synchronised shamrock for Ukraine
At precisely the same time, hundreds of members of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards called a brief halt to training Ukrainian recruits on Operation Interflex in Eastern England, to hold a short field service and shamrock presentation.
Operation Interflex is an international, fast track professional military programme, that delivers battlefield training to new recruits, enabling them to deploy effectively straight to the frontline to counter the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Irish Guards are commanding a multi-national battlegroup made up of soldiers from eight different nations to carry out this vital training, and it is the second time they have been deployed in the role. The battalion has made a significant contribution to the training of more than 45,000 Ukrainians in the UK since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Singing from the same hymn sheet
St Patrick’s Day began with prayers, sermon and hymns delivered in the Guards Chapel in London, and it was the same words and music heard and sung by the Irish and Ukrainian soldiers in the woods and fields of East Anglia, bringing everyone together in a tangible sense of solidarity and comradeship.
At Wellington Barracks in London, The Drums and Pipes of the Irish Guards led by the four-year-old Regimental Irish Wolfhound Mascot, Turlough Mor, marched Number 9 and 12 Companies Irish Guards, and the Rear Operations Group onto parade.
As the Band of the Irish Guards played Irish Airs, The Princess of Wales pinned sprigs of fresh shamrock on the soldiers and Regimental dog in Wellington Barracks; while at exactly the same time, just under 100 miles away, Irish Guards Officers and Warrant Officers presented shamrock to their Ukrainian comrades.
St Patrick’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the friendships that are so fundamental to our Regimental ethos and identity. With our busy and diverse operational schedules, it is the most prominent occasion for the Regimental family to come together and welcome Micks of all ranks from across the Army, past and present, along with their families. We raised a glass to those unable to attend this year, especially those deployed on Operations elsewhere.
Three cheers for the Royal Colonel
In London and in East Anglia, The Irish Guards, in keeping with tradition wherever they are stationed around the world, gave a rousing three cheers for the Royal Colonel, HRH The Princess of Wales, at the end of the parade.
The synchronised simple ceremonies, united by tradition, helped all taking part to remember the things that matter most, the things we fight so hard to protect: the importance of friendship, teamwork, our cultural identity and history, and the joy of being able to freely share cultural experience.
Commanding Officer Lt Col Ben Irwin-Clark said: "St Patrick’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the friendships that are so fundamental to our Regimental ethos and identity. With our busy and diverse operational schedules, it is the most prominent occasion for the Regimental family to come together and welcome Micks of all ranks from across the Army, past and present, along with their families. We raised a glass to those unable to attend this year, especially those deployed on Operations elsewhere."
Victoria’s heroes
This is a very special year for the Irish Guards Regiment as they celebrate the 125th anniversary of their founding by the Royal order of Queen Victoria. Their creation was inspired by a suggestion from Lord Wolseley that the Irish Regiments who had fought for the British Army should wear shamrock in their headdress on St Patrick’s Day each year as a mark of the Crown’s appreciation of their exceptional gallantry at Ladysmith, South Africa during the Boer War. As there were already Scots Guards and English Guards, a new Regiment of Irish Guards should be created. Field Marshal Lord Roberts VC, an Irishman, was their first Colonel, and the first Irish Guardsmen were drawn from the Foot Guard Regiments. Their first Colour was presented by King Edward VII in 1902, the year in which they received their first pedigree Irish Wolfhound Mascot.
The Regiment has built a proud and noble history that combines a ferocious operational reputation in the 20th century’s bloodiest battles, with world class discipline and turn out on ceremonial duties.
The Irish Guards boast six Victoria Cross recipients, four from the First World War and two from World War Two.
Persistently committed to operations globally
Since last year’s St Patrick’s Day, the Irish Guards have maintained their persistent output of operational and ceremonial tasks. Numbers 1 and 2 Companies have been committed as the UK Standby Battalion, deploying on various military operational mentoring tasks to Nigeria, Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique and Morocco.
Number 2 Company also deployed to Louisiana, USA, working with the US Army on Exercise Rattlesnake, mastering their reconnaissance strike capability in extremely challenging terrain, and testing their warfighting capacity.
Over Easter 2024, Number 3 Company saw deployments to Nigeria and Uganda, continuing to strengthen their ties with key stakeholders at the training institutions across the continent.
In summer 2024, Number 4 Company deployed on Exercise Mayan Warrior, conducting jungle training in Belize.
Support to Ukraine
On 1 November 2024, the 1st Battalion Irish Guards transitioned from Security Force Assistance to the Land Special Operations Force. They have embraced a return to a focus on warfighting and developing their lethality as an adaptable light force. They are currently employed on Operation Interflex training thousands of Ukrainian recruits the battlefield skills they urgently need to defend their homeland from Russian invasion.
Representing the nation at home
Number 9 Company Irish Guards and Number 12 Company Irish Guards, both Public Duties Companies, have also been busy beyond their daily King’s Guard duties. June 2024 saw them deliver a memorable Trooping of their new Colour for HM The King’s Birthday Parade. The Micks turned out one of the most immaculate Escort to the Colour performances in recent history. This was against astonishing weather where the sky glowered, the wind blew, lightning struck, thunder roared and the rain pelted down like a monsoon!
The ceremonial companies also provided support to the State Opening of Parliament and participated in a number of Guards of Honour for visiting overseas dignitaries. Throughout this year these dual role soldiers have maintained their light role infantry capability with regular operational field training exercises.
Happy St Patrick’s Day
Following the parade in London, official Officers' and Sergeants’ Mess photographs were taken, and afterwards everyone came together for a toast of Guinness and a celebratory lunch. In East Anglia, it was back to training. War waits for no one, but the happy reprieve imbued all with added purpose.
