Editing Defence Forces (Ireland) (section)

===Army===
{{Main article|Irish Army}}

[[File:Best 15 (11419866795).jpg|thumb|An Irish Army [[Cavalry Corps (Ireland)|Cavalry Corps]] [[Mowag Piranha]] Close Reconnaissance Vehicle on [[United Nations|UN]] patrol in [[Syria]]]]

As of December 2023, the Army had approximately 6,136 active personnel,<ref name="writtenAnswersPDF"/> with 1,351 personnel in the [[Army Reserve (Ireland)|Army Reserve]].<ref name="writtenAnswersRDF"/> Up to late 2012 the army had three [[brigade]]s: 1 Southern, 2 Eastern and 4 Western; in 2012, [[4th Brigade (Ireland)|4 Western Brigade]] stood down at its HQ Custume Barracks, Athlone. The state is now divided into two Brigade areas for administrative and operational reasons, with the former 4 Western Brigade split between the other two brigades.  In addition to the brigade structure, there is also the Defence Forces Training Centre, a logistics base in the [[Curragh Camp|Curragh]].

The two-brigade structure envisages distinct operational areas of responsibility for each of the brigades. The [[1st Brigade (Ireland)|1st Brigade]] has primary responsibility for operational tasks in the southern region, while the [[2nd Brigade (Ireland)|2nd Brigade]] leads on operational tasks in the eastern and western regions.  Practical operational considerations dictate the requirement to outline operational areas of responsibility. The brigade structure is based on strengthened [[combat]] and [[combat support|combat-support]] elements, together with streamlined [[combat service support|combat-service-support]] elements.

The Army has nine specialist [[corps]], each designated as either combat, combat support or combat service support. These are the [[Infantry Corps (Ireland)|Infantry Corps]], [[Artillery Corps (Ireland)|Artillery Corps]], [[Cavalry Corps (Ireland)|Cavalry Corps]], [[Engineer Corps (Ireland)|Engineer Corps]], [[Ordnance Corps (Ireland)|Ordnance Corps]], [[Medical Corps (Ireland)|Medical Corps]], [[Transport Corps (Ireland)|Transport Corps]], [[Military Police Corps (Ireland)|Military Police Corps]], and the [[Communications and Information Services Corps]]. In the case of corps which support the [[infantry]], a Corps Director and staff are provided to coordinate the purchase of specialised equipment, the execution of specialised training, and other necessary activities.

Irish infantry are equipped with [[assault rifle]]s, [[machine gun]]s, [[grenade launcher]]s, [[hand grenade]]s, and [[anti-tank weapon]]s. Most weapons used by their defence forces follow [[NATO]] standards and are purchased from abroad, with Ireland having a very limited arms industry. The Army has light armoured vehicles, with the primary vehicle being the [[MOWAG Piranha]], armed with machine guns. Its [[artillery]] capabilities consist of 120mm mortars and towed 105mm light guns.

The [[Army Ranger Wing]] (ARW) are the [[special forces]] of Ireland. They are based at the Curragh.