This is a list of wars involving the Republic of Ireland and its predecessor states, since the Irish War of Independence. Since the 1930s, the state has had a policy of neutrality and has only been involved in conflicts as part of United Nations peacekeeping missions.
There have been many wars on the island of Ireland throughout history. Before independence, all of Ireland was part of the United Kingdom and Irish soldiers fought in many wars as part of the British military. Irish soldiers also fought in conflicts as part of other armies.
List ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2Result Irish War of Independence(1919–1921) Irish Republic Victory Anglo-Irish Treaty Dominion status for 26 counties of Southern Ireland as the Irish Free State 6 counties of Northern Ireland remain part of UK United Kingdom retains the Ports of Berehaven, Spike Island and Lough Swilly Irish Civil War(1922–1923) (pro-Treaty forces)
Military support: Anti-Treaty IRA(anti-Treaty forces) Pro-Treaty victory Consolidation of the Irish Free State Congo Crisis(1960–1964) ONUC
Others Victory Debellation of the State of Katanga Cyprus conflict(1964–present) UNFICYP
Others Ongoing The Troubles(1968–1998)
Irish Defence Forces Gardaí paramilitaries Saor Éire (1967–75) Provisional IRA(1969–97) Official IRA(1969–72) INLA (1974–98)
CIRA (1994–) RIRA (1997–)
paramilitaries UVF(1966–94) UDA/UFF(1971–94) RHC(1972–94) UR (1986–) LVF (1996–) Stalemate Good Friday Agreement Principle of consent accepted by all major parties involved Devolved powers to the local Northern Ireland Assembly Ceasefire and decommissioning of weapons from paramilitary groups Withdrawal of British troops from Northern Ireland Reform of the local police force Lebanese Civil War(1978–present) UNIFIL
Others South Lebanon Army
Hezbollah Amal PFLP-GC Ongoing Somali Civil War(1992–1995) UNOSOM II
Others United Somali Congress Victory UN humanitarian mandate fulfilled About 100,000 lives were saved by outside resistance Civil war is ongoing Yugoslav Wars(1991–2001) United Nations peacekeeping force
Kosovo Force FR Yugoslavia Victory Stabilisation of the Balkans On-going Active Irish Presence East Timorese Crisis(1999–2000) UNTAET
Others Pro-Indonesia militia Victory Defeat of pro-Indonesian militia Stabilisation of East Timor
See also List of conflicts in Ireland List of wars involving the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland List of Irish military casualties overseas
References