The Freeman's Journal, January 27, 1922

The National Army was constituted from the revolutionary Irish Republican Army, which emerged from the Irish War of Independence. On 31 January 1922 the first unit of the new National Army, a former IRA unit of the Dublin Guard, took possession of Beggars Bush Barracks, the first British barracks to be handed to the new state. Michael Collins envisaged the new army being built around the pre-existing IRA, but over half of this organisation rejected the compromises made in the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

In February 1922, the new Provisional Government began to recruit volunteers into the National Army. A force of 4,000 troops was envisaged, but with the impending Civil War, on 5 July 1922 the Provisional Government authorised raising an establishment of 35,000 men. In the early days of the new Army's establishment, a dark sage green uniform with complementary Sam Browne Belt became the standard.

IRELAND'S ARMY

GREEN UNIFORM WILL SOON BE WORN BY TROOPS

MATERIALS ORDERED

(By Our Political Correspondent)

Irish soldiers in the national uniform will soon be seen in the streets of our cities or marching through the countryside of the land they have freed. The day at last has come when the "khaki" coats will be rarer in Ireland the the "Red Indian on the shores of Manhattan", a proud and grateful country will rejoice in the sight of the "Jackets Green."

Larger orders for uniforms and other essentials of equipment have been placed in Dublin and in several prominent centres. Busy workers are rushing the execution of these orders which, by the way, are giving much needed employment as well as providing our soldiers with a worthy garb.

UNIFORMS IRISH THROUGHOUT

I am informed by the General Manager of the Irish Co-operative Clothing Manufacturing Society that large orders have been received by the firm for Irish Army uniform and equipment. Irish mills are engaged in making the well-known grey-green cloth for uniforms. A Drogheda factory is making coat-lining material; sleeve linings are being made in Cork. The manufacture of buttons -a new Irish industry- is being carried out in Dublin. A Kevin street firm is being entrusted with an order for buttons. Thus the entire uniform, even to the sewing, will be of Irish manufacture. The shirts, socks and all general equipment will also be entirely Irish.

THE ARMY EMERGES

With the putting of the soldiers in uniform other interesting and significant army developments may be expected. Ireland's wonderful unseen army will at last break upon our view as an organised military force, quartered in its barricades, and carrying out all its functions in the full gaze of the world. The eagerness with which the general public become interested in everything connected with the army is testified three days by the crows that gather around those shop windows in Dublin where items of uniform are displayed.

Of course, the Irish Free State Army is not yet actually in existence, and recruiting for it has not begun. Smart designs have been elected for the new uniforms. An important announcement may be expected immediately.