Comms in the Irish Defence Forces

1915-1923

“Signals” made their first appearance in modern times in Ireland in 1915, when Signal detachments were organised in all Battalions of the Irish Volunteers. During Easter Week, 1916, Volunteer Signallers operated a field wireless station from the GPO, Dublin, and this formed the only direct communication with the outside world during this historic week. In 1920-21 the Volunteer Communication Service proved of untold value. The personnel consisted almost entirely of despatch carriers and the Service served all Republican Government Departments in addition to fulfilling military requirements. As a result of the efficiency of the Service the Republican Army and the Government Departments were entirely independent of the British Post Office in Ireland. The service also extended to Great Britain, the Continent, and across the Atlantic to the USA. Out of the nucleus of this Volunteer Communication Service grew the Signal Corps, which was organised in March 1923. Initially called the Independent Signal Corps under the command of Col Liam Archer suitable NCOs and civilians were commissioned, by mid-summer, as Officers i/c Visual Instruction, Telegraph Instruction, W/T instruction and Line, Cable and Telephone Instruction. Some of the appointment holders were

In June 1923 the title was changed to Army Signal Corps.

1924-1930

The major re-organisation of 1924 provided the Corps with a Headquarters, a Headquarters Company and a Command Company in each of three Commands, Eastern, Southern and Western, and in the Curragh Training camp with an establishment of 12 Officers and 344 other ranks.

1931-1946

In 1941 the Corp consisted of a Directorate of Signals in Army Headquarters, A Depot, School and Base Workshops in the Curragh and six Field Signal Companies (one for each of six Brigades). In addition to these units there was also an Air Signals Squadron and Garrison Signal Sections linking Army HQ with each of the Command

1946-1959

The 1946 re-org reverted back from the two Division structure and introduced the first Reserve Signal company, the 11th Field Signal Company FCA based in Collins Barracks in Dublin. The Garrison Signal companies became Signal platoons.

1959-1977

In 1959 two additional FCA reserve Signal companies were created, the 3rd in Limerick and the 5th in Sligo. By 1974 the Corps consisted of a Directorate in AHQ, Depot, School and Base Workshops in the Curragh, 3 PDF Field Companies (1st - Cork, 2nd - Dublin, 4th - Athlone) and 3 FCA Companies (3rd - Limerick, 5th - Sligo, 11th - Dublin). In addition there were Garrison Signal Sections linking each command with AHQ. The Air Corp had the Air Signals Squadron in Baldonnell. By 1977 The Garrison Signal Section had disappeared and 6th Field Signal Coy (PDF) established in the Curragh.

1977-1998

In 1998 a merger between the Signal Corp and Military Information Technology Section (MITS)resulted in the Corps being renamed the Communications and Information Services (CIS) Corps. A re-org creating the Defence Force Training Centre in the Curragh resulted in the dis-establishment of Depot and 6th Field Signal Companys

2005-2013

The 2005 re-org saw the FCA become the Army Reserve (AR) of the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF). This resulted in the renaming of the 3 reserve companies from 1st to 31st, 5th to 54th and 11th to 62nd under the command of Reserve Officers. In 2013 the introduction of the Signle Force Concept as part of the re-org of the Reserve and the establishment of a 2 Brigade structure brought major changes to the Corps. 4th Field CIS Coy was disbanded and it's members absorbed in 2 Fd CIS Coy. The 3 Reserve companies were disbanded and their members transferred to reserve platoons of 1 & 2 Bde CIS Companies. For the first time since at least 1941 there were no reserve companies in the Corps