# Irish Military **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 17, 2005, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-military/336053 "2005-12-17T14:17:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-military/336053/21 "2005-12-19T03:32:50Z")
If Mexico can have a space agency, I don’t see why Ireland can’t have a military. ---
**Author:** ![Hemlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Hemlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hemlock)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-military/336053/22 "2005-12-19T14:51:32Z")
Singapore has the same population as Ireland and only a fraction of the land area, but it has small but serious artillery and armoured units, a couple of squadrons of F15s, some C130s, and a navy with light frigates and subs. And it’s surrounded by potential enemies. Ireland is like Canada - no natural predators in the neighbourhood, so it can goof off on defence spending. Lucky taxpayers. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-military/336053/23 "2005-12-19T16:26:50Z")
> [@Bytegeist](#): > > If Mexico can have a space agency, I don’t see why Ireland can’t have a military. ¿Que? 😕😕😕 ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-military/336053/24 "2005-12-19T16:46:48Z")
> [@Bytegeist](#): > > If Mexico can have a space agency, I don’t see why Ireland can’t have a military. We do have a military. Just not a very large one. Ah, the Blueshirts. If it weren’t for them I’d have one less reason to mock Fine Gael 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-military/336053/25 "2005-12-19T20:25:34Z")
> [@Hemlock](#): > > Singapore has the same population as Ireland and only a fraction of the land area, but it has small but serious artillery and armoured units, a couple of squadrons of F15s, some C130s, and a navy with light frigates and subs. > > And it’s surrounded by potential enemies. Exactly. Who are proportionally armed and within range, _and_ Singapore can financially afford to field a military that would put up a fair fight. > [@](#): > > Ireland is like Canada - no natural predators in the neighbourhood, so it can goof off on defence spending. Lucky taxpayers. ``` For values of "goofing off" approaching "cost-effectiveness decision" ;) ``` ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-military/336053/26 "2005-12-19T20:46:16Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > My brother-in-law is in the army. The Irish army’s real expertise is in the area of guerilla warfare. In the event of invasion, the Irish army’s response would be to run for the hills and turn Dublin into Fallujah. Given our history, it’s a very solid tactic. Until **Bosda** starts air dropping kegs in the country side. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-military/336053.md?page=1)