File:THE EASTER SUNDAY PARADE - SOME MILITARY HARDWARE USED BY THE IRISH ARMY (CELEBRATING THE EASTER 1916 RISING)-112948 (26072228335).jpg

The Easter Parade terminated outside my apartment block but as my windows face away from Bolton Street I was afraid that I might not be able to get any usable photographs of the parade but things did work out too bad even though members of the public did frequently block my view of the event.

Since Ireland joined the United Nations in 1955, the Army has been deployed on many peacekeeping missions. The first of these took place in 1958, when a small number of observers were sent to Lebanon. A total of 86 Irish soldiers have died in the service of the United Nations since 1960

As of 1 December 2015, 493 Defence Force personnel are serving in 12 different missions throughout the world including Lebanon (UNIFIL), Syria (UNDOF), Middle East (UNTSO), Kosovo (KFOR), German-led Battle Group 2016 and other observer and staff appointments to UN, EU, OSCE and PfP posts. The largest deployments include: Lebanon (UNIFIL) 51 Infantry Group, Syria (UNDOF) 50 Infantry Group.

The Army has historically purchased and used weapons and equipment from other western countries, mainly from European nations. Ireland has a very limited arms industry and rarely produces its own armaments.

From its establishment the Army used the British-made Lee–Enfield .303 rifle, which would be the mainstay for many decades. In the 1960s some modernisation came with the introduction of the Belgian-made FN FAL 7.62 mm assault rifle. Since 1989 the service rifle for the Army is the Austrian-made Steyr AUG 5.56 mm assault rifle (used by all branches of the Defence Forces).

Other weapons in use by the Army include the USP 9mm pistol, FN MAG machine gun, M2 Browning machine gun, Accuracy International Arctic Warfare sniper rifles, AT4 SRAAW, FGM-148 Javelin Anti-tank guided missile, L118 105mm Howitzer, RBS 70 Surface to Air Missile system.