Irish joining the British Army, wtf?

luckat · 28-11-2008 10:06AM #1

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7749793.stm

The British military is experiencing a large rise in recruits from the Irish Republic, figures obtained by BBC Radio 4's PM programme have shown.

They reveal a four-fold increase in military personnel from the Irish Republic during the past three years.

Between 2005 and 2006, just 3% of recruits entering the military through its recruitment centres in Northern Ireland came from the Republic.

The figure so far this year is 14%, and officers believe it will rise further.

<snip>

WTF???

Ste.phen · 28-11-2008 10:08AM

Does it pay better than the Irish army?
Maybe it's seen as more exciting than guarding securicor vans?

Irish people have always joined the UK army, we have plenty of monuments to Irish dead in the UK armies in WWI and WWII, as well as earlier wars (although since we were part of the UK then, it's more understandable)

Ross_Mahon · 28-11-2008 10:12AM

Join the British army and save the Galaxy. Service guarantees citizenship. Would you like to know more?

mikemac · 28-11-2008 10:14AM

In the Napoleanic wars, up to one third of the army came from Ireland. Of course it was our army too since 1801
It's nothing new

And there were Irish battalions in the French and Spanish armies at the time too
Why the surprise, this has was going on even before this

seamus · 28-11-2008 10:16AM

Tonnes of Irish and Britons also join the French foreign legion each year too.

Why are you WTF out of you? The UK has a large, well-funded, well-equipped army.

The Irish army aren't rock-throwers by comparison, but if you're more interested in the experience and opportunities as opposed to the nationalism, then you'd do better in the British army.

Mena · 28-11-2008 10:17AM

seamus wrote: »

but if you're more interested in the experience and opportunities as opposed to the nationalism, then you'd do better in the British army.

This.

Not sure where the "WTF" comes from.

Irlbo · 28-11-2008 10:18AM

In my opinion,anyone that does,is a traitor and should be shot for treachery,call me backwards or living in the past or whatever,but I dont care,I still remember the brutality of the Bristish army against our fellow Irishmen and women up North

Mr. Incognito · 28-11-2008 10:20AM

Lets face it the only thing the Irish army does is guard the bank's vans, follow the president around playing the national anthem and get drunk on cheap pints in the barracks.

35,000 Irish men dies in the first world war for instance fighting in the british army. At least they pick real wars.

Ste.phen · 28-11-2008 10:20AM

Irlbo wrote: »

In my opinion,anyone that does,is a traitor and should be shot for treachery,call me backwards or living in the past or whatever,but In dont care,I still remember the brutality of the Bristish army against our fellow Irishmen and women up North

And many others remember the brutality of the IRA against our fellow Irishmen and women up North. Totally not the issue.

Besides, didn't the army initially arrive as peacekeepers, regardless of how that turned out after the first year or so?

chin_grin · 28-11-2008 10:20AM

Welcome to the past, population? You.

Mitch Connor · 28-11-2008 10:22AM

Irlbo wrote: »

In my opinion,anyone that does,is a traitor and should be shot for treachery,call me backwards or living in the past or whatever,but In dont care,I still remember the brutality of the Bristish army against our fellow Irishmen and women up North

How can you be a traitor without doing anything against your country?

Carturo · 28-11-2008 10:23AM

Irlbo wrote: »

In my opinion,anyone that does,is a traitor and should be shot for treachery,call me backwards or living in the past or whatever,but In dont care,I still remember the brutality of the Bristish army against our fellow Irishmen and women up North

I can think of more appropriate things to call you than backwards.

So you're against it because of the brutality against Irish in the North yet you're on for shooting Irish people that want to join the British Army?

That makes sense! :rolleyes:

biko · 28-11-2008 10:23AM

It probably beats living in some flats in Ballymun on the dole.

jhegarty · 28-11-2008 10:24AM

Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no ****ing homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more

If you stay British Soldiers If you stay
You'll never ever beat the IRA
For the 14 men in Derry
Are the last that you will bury
So take a tip And leave us bloody be

So Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no ****ing homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more

We're not British, we're not Saxon we're not English
We're Irish and proud we are to be
So **** your Union Jack We want our country back
We want to see old Ireland free once more

So Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no ****ing homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more

We'll fight them British Soldiers for the cause
We'll never bow to Soldiers because
Troughout our history We were born to be free
So get out British bastards leave us be

So Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no ****ing homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more

Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no ****ing homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more
Yes, we will fight you for 800 more!

Asok · 28-11-2008 10:27AM

Sazza razza frazzin.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eRxPDLYM9Q tis a lil nsfw ....

Ste.phen · 28-11-2008 10:28AM

Asok wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eRxPDLYM9Q

We're sorry. This Video is no longer available.

luckat · 28-11-2008 10:28AM

I'd find it equally strange if they were suddenly rushing to join the French or German army.

Are there no better jobs than soldiering to be had? Never mind soldiering for the British.

javaboy · 28-11-2008 10:29AM

Asok wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eRxPDLYM9Q

Embedding disabled. It works from this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eRxPDLYM9Q

Great video btw Asok.

Fratton Fred · 28-11-2008 10:31AM

jhegarty wrote: »

Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no ****ing homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more

If you stay British Soldiers If you stay
You'll never ever beat the IRA
For the 14 men in Derry
Are the last that you will bury
So take a tip And leave us bloody be

So Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no ****ing homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more

We're not British, we're not Saxon we're not English
We're Irish and proud we are to be
So **** your Union Jack We want our country back
We want to see old Ireland free once more

So Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no ****ing homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more

We'll fight them British Soldiers for the cause
We'll never bow to Soldiers because
Troughout our history We were born to be free
So get out British bastards leave us be

So Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no ****ing homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more

Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no ****ing homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more
Yes, we will fight you for 800 more!

1982 called, they want to know if you'll be back in time for dinner?

Lockstep · 28-11-2008 10:31AM

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

35,000 Irish men dies in the first world war for instance fighting in the british army. At least they pick real wars.

God forbid we get involved in a real war.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 28-11-2008 10:31AM

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Lets face it the only thing the Irish army does is guard the bank's vans, follow the president around playing the national anthem and get drunk on cheap pints in the barracks.

35,000 Irish men dies in the first world war for instance fighting in the british army. At least they pick real wars.

I was going to debate this with you, but I seen your sig. now I won't.

prendy · 28-11-2008 10:33AM

Irlbo wrote: »

In my opinion,anyone that does,is a traitor and should be shot for treachery,call me backwards or living in the past or whatever,but I dont care,I still remember the brutality of the Bristish army against our fellow Irishmen and women up North

lol:D
your backwards, living in the past and a complete f00l.

so your against the violence up north but would shoot these "traitors".

seamus · 28-11-2008 10:35AM

luckat wrote: »

I'd find it equally strange if they were suddenly rushing to join the French or German army.

Are there no better jobs than soldiering to be had? Never mind soldiering for the British.

What makes you think being a soldier is an horrific job?

It's more of a vocation than anything like being a teacher or a Garda. Although I would concede that many people "end up" there because they either have no other prospects or can't decide what to do with themselves.

But plenty of well-educated people with otherwise great prospects go off an join the army for their own reasons. Joining any army doesn't mean that you're going to spend the rest of your life getting up at 6am in a dormitory bunkbed and taker orders all day.

KTRIC · 28-11-2008 10:36AM

jhegarty wrote: »

Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no ****ing homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more

Wow, thats a catchy jingle.

I'll be humming that for the day now.

Professey Chin · 28-11-2008 10:37AM

Gotta shoot people from the desert legally somehow

javaboy · 28-11-2008 10:39AM

KTRIC wrote: »

jhegarty wrote:

Go on home British Soldiers Go on home
Have you got no ****ing homes of your own
For 800 years we've fought you without fear
And we will fight you for 800 more

Wow, thats a catchy jingle.

I'll be humming that for the day now.

It's catchy all right.

I know the guy who wrote it. I wonder if it would disillusion any of the "taking the King's shill=treason" crowd if they knew he supports an English football team?

arybvtcw0eolkf · 28-11-2008 10:39AM

luckat wrote: »

Are there no better jobs than soldiering to be had? Never mind soldiering for the British.

You see, this is something a civilian can't understand.

No one person I know had joined the military for 'a job', they joined because inside there was a calling to arms for them. They wanted to be soldiers, they didn't want the cushy civilian life - the 'nine to five'.

The Defence Forces recruitment slogan 'A life less ordinary' is brilliant, because thats exactly what soldiering is.

28-11-2008 10:40AM

What exactly does the French Foreign Legion do?

andrewh5 · 28-11-2008 10:43AM

micmclo wrote: »

In the Napoleanic wars, up to one third of the army came from Ireland. Of course it was our army too since 1801
It's nothing new

And there were Irish battalions in the French and Spanish armies at the time too
Why the surprise, this has was going on even before this

Absolutely! They always have and they always will - get over it!

Ross_Mahon · 28-11-2008 10:45AM

Deleted User wrote: »

What exactly does the French Foreign Legion do?

I don't know what they do now now, But they fought in all French wars including the Franco-Prussian War and both World Wars. They are probably just for show now!:D Interesting uniform

andrewh5 · 28-11-2008 10:46AM

Deleted User wrote: »

What exactly does the French Foreign Legion do?

Exactly the same as any other army. They were in Gulf War 1. They have always been in Chad. etc, etc. Google them FFS!

Irish joining the British Army, wtf?

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