The Band of the Irish Guards / Royal Regiment of Scotland (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders)

(Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders)
World Music & Dance

Manager: Andrew S. Grossman
Additional Management: Seton Ijams
Management Territory: North America

About

Band of the Irish Guards
Major P D Shannon MBE
Music Director

THE BAND OF THE IRISH GUARDS

The regiment was formed on 1st April 1900 by order of Queen Victoria in response to the courage shown by the Irish regiments during the Second Boer War of 1899-1902. The Irish Guards' first Colonel was Field Marshal Lord Roberts, known to many of the troops as ‘Bobs’. Due to this fact, the regiment gained the nickname ‘Bob's Own’, but today are affectionately known as ‘The Micks’.

King Edward VII . . . presented the regiment’s first Colours in May 1902. This ceremony was held on Horse Guards Parade in London during the King’s Birthday Parade. Over a century later, in May 2009, the regiment had the honor of receiving new Colours from Her Majesty The Queen at a ceremony in Windsor Castle.

A number of Irish Guardsmen saw action as mounted infantry in the final stages of the Boer War. Otherwise, for the first fourteen years of its existence, the Irish Guards were stationed in the United Kingdom, performing ceremonial duties in London until the beginning of the First World War.

In 2000, the 100th year of the formation of the Irish Guards, Liverpool granted them the freedom of the city. The following year the regiment took part in training exercises in Poland, Canada and Oman.

At the funeral of the Queen Mother in 2002, the coffin bearer-party was made up of Irish Guardsmen. This was a remarkable honor, given the fact that the late Queen Mother had no official connection with the Irish Guards, despite her long-standing identification with the regiment.

Each year on St. Patrick’s Day (17th March), a member of the Royal Family presents individuals from the regiment with shamrock. This tradition dates from 1901 when Queen Alexandra sent shamrock to the 1st Battalion. For many years the regiment was honored to receive its shamrock from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. Since her death in 2002, HRH The Princess Royal has continued the custom.

Members of the Irish Guards won six Victoria Crosses in both the First and Second World Wars. The regiment has been stationed in many parts of the world since 1945, including a number of conflict zones. In 2003, it was deployed to Kuwait during the build-up to the Gulf War. The Irish Guards were part of the 7th Armoured Brigade (successor of the famed 7th Armoured Division, 'The Desert Rats'). Upon crossing the Iraq border, the Brigade headed for Basra, gradually taking control of much of the area that surrounded Iraq's second largest city.

In 2005, the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards became the first unit to be officially awarded battle honors for service in Iraq. These battle honors were proudly displayed on the battalion's Queen’s Colour during the Sovereign's Birthday Parade that year.