Ireland's Tanks

[uk 75]

As a fan of "Father Ted" and all things from the UK's more prosperous neighbour I was delighted to find an excellent Wiki about the Irish Army's vehicles

Armoured fighting vehicles of the Irish Army - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I doubt whether many Brits knew that some former British Army Churchill and Comet tanks made the journey across the Irish Sea.
As the Irish Republic is a pretty sensible place these were never replaced by Centurions or even Leopards or AMXs. Though maybe in those tense years of the late 60s planners flirted with the idea.
In addition to offering safe refuge to Brits fleeing the nightmare of Brexit or US companies needing a light tax home in Europe, the Irish have the luxury of leaving their defence to other countries. All in all a nice place to be.

 

[dan_inbox]

As the Irish Republic is a pretty sensible place these were never replaced by Centurions or even Leopards or AMXs.

Well, Ireland has an un unfair advantage: nobody would want such a place, full of Irish men and women.
Right?

 

[Fluff]

Well any Irish that wanted a tank, just had to join the British Army, which is exactly what my father did. Never looked back.

He also built the windows on Comets.....old family joke that one.

 

[Nick]

I have a very good book on the topic which I do recommend. It covers all the fighting vehicles in Irish use. Lots of colour photos and a good history of all types.
(It comes up at £37-£45 on various sites, I only paid £2 for my mildly worn ex-display copy )

AFVs in Irish Service Since 1922 From the National Army to the Irish Defence Forces. Ralph A. Riccio

 

[DWG]

Well any Irish that wanted a tank, just had to join the British Army, which is exactly what my father did.

Or the US Army, here's The Chieftain talking about Irish Army equipment from the 20s onwards and his time in the Irish military before he became a US armor officer:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oarLQY6VJzs