Royal Irish Regiment (1684–1922)
| 18th Regiment of Foot 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot Royal Irish Regiment | |
|---|---|
Royal Irish Regiment Cap Badge | |
| Active | 1684–1922 |
| Disbanded | 1922 |
| Country | Kingdom of Ireland (1684–1800) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922) |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Line infantry |
| Size | 2 Regular battalions 3 Militia and Special Reserve battalions |
| Garrison/HQ | Kickham Barracks, Clonmel |
| Nickname(s) | The Namurs, Paddy's Blackguards |
| Motto(s) | Virtutis Namurcensis Praemium (Reward for Valour at Namur) |
| Colors | Royal Blue |
| March | Quick: Garry Owen |
| Engagements | Second Boer War |
The Royal Irish Regiment, until 1881 the 18th Regiment of Foot, was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, first raised in 1684. Also known as the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot and the 18th (The Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot, it was one of eight Irish regiments raised largely in Ireland, its home depot in Clonmel. It saw service for two and a half centuries before being disbanded with the Partition of Ireland following establishment of the independent Irish Free State in 1922 when the five regiments that had their traditional recruiting grounds in the counties of the new state were disbanded.