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Shadow Warriors: The Irish Army Ranger Wing
In the spring of 1980, the Irish Department of Defence sanctioned the establishment of a new unit within the Irish Defence Forces and the Irish Army Ranger Wing (ARW) came into being. In the decades that followed, its soldiers have been deployed on active service at home and abroad, generally without the knowledge of the wider public. The ARW is made up of seasoned men from across the island, who are selected through tough competition. Only the best of the best make it through and are trained in an extraordinary range of specialist skills. Being one of these elite operators takes more than simply being a skilled soldier - it means believing you are the best.
Shadow Warriors tells the story behind the creation of the ARW, from its origins in specialist counter-terrorism training in the late 1960s and the preparation of small unconventional units in the 1970s to the formation of the ARW itself in 1980 and its subsequent history. The first and only authoritative account in the public domain of this specialist unit, authors Paul O'Brien and Sergeant Wayne Fitzgerald have been granted access to the closed and clandestine world of Ireland's Special Forces, who train hard, fight harder and face unconventional types of warfare, yet prefer to stay out of the limelight.
Shadow Warriors tells the story behind the creation of the ARW, from its origins in specialist counter-terrorism training in the late 1960s and the preparation of small unconventional units in the 1970s to the formation of the ARW itself in 1980 and its subsequent history. The first and only authoritative account in the public domain of this specialist unit, authors Paul O'Brien and Sergeant Wayne Fitzgerald have been granted access to the closed and clandestine world of Ireland's Special Forces, who train hard, fight harder and face unconventional types of warfare, yet prefer to stay out of the limelight.
- GenresNonfiction
160 pages, Paperback
Published April 7, 2020
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59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 19, 2020
I really loved every single page of this awesome book. The introduction clearly shows what you may expect and when reading that is exactly what you get. A clear, to the point history of the ARW, starting with their origins and the way they evolved into an SF unit like they are now. Also superb info on their training. The thing I loved most about the book is the structure; short chapters coming directly to the point without the risk of becoming boring by its size. I absolutely recommend this book to people interested in military history as well as the freaks as myself :-), interested in SF units in all of their aspects. It gets my five stars, but if 10 were possible it surely would get them all !!!
April 26, 2020
Shadow Warriors is an insightful and well written account on the Irish Defence Force's elite Army Ranger Wing.
Both well written and easy to read, this book takes a deeper look into the formation, training, establishment and operations of the ARW. Tracing the Wing's evolution from its humble origins, right through to its contribution to peacekeeping missions across the globe, Shadow Warriors is a fascinating look into Ireland's elite special forces.
This is a great book for anyone interested in military history or looking to learn more about Ireland's 50+ years of missions with the UN.
Both well written and easy to read, this book takes a deeper look into the formation, training, establishment and operations of the ARW. Tracing the Wing's evolution from its humble origins, right through to its contribution to peacekeeping missions across the globe, Shadow Warriors is a fascinating look into Ireland's elite special forces.
This is a great book for anyone interested in military history or looking to learn more about Ireland's 50+ years of missions with the UN.
July 27, 2020
Very good insight into the training and operations of the ARW. Gives you a new appreciation for the people keeping is safe
September 15, 2020
If you have any interest in military stuff or how elite special forces work then this book is a must read! I was not even aware that we had such elite forces here in Ireland and it was great to learn about them.
From the rudimentary beginnings to where they are now with state of the art equipment is all here in this book. Now they seem to be getting better and better and thats good for Ireland so we have these forces to protect us from terrorist threats etc
This is an important story that needed to be told and its a great book. Very much recommended!!
From the rudimentary beginnings to where they are now with state of the art equipment is all here in this book. Now they seem to be getting better and better and thats good for Ireland so we have these forces to protect us from terrorist threats etc
This is an important story that needed to be told and its a great book. Very much recommended!!
April 19, 2020
If you've ever wondered what a neutral country might do with a Special Forces, here's where you'll find out. I served with the Irish infantry and "The Wing" were always a bit of an enigma. This was a great read.
April 20, 2025
Shadow Warriors was an easy and enjoyable read. I found it very accessible - the language is clear and straightforward, and there’s a handy glossary of abbreviations at the start that’s useful to have as you go through the book.
The first part gives a solid overview of how the ARW came to be, looking at the social and political climate in Ireland at the time and what led to the decision to set up a special forces unit. It also goes into the training and education the original members went through, and how they worked with other countries’ special forces to learn and improve.
The second part looks at some of the more high profile overseas missions the ARW has taken part in - in places like Mali, Chad, Somalia, and Liberia. Each chapter gives a quick breakdown of what was going on in the region and why the UN got involved. The details about what the ARW actually did are pretty broad, which makes sense given the secretive nature of that kind of work.
The third section talks about how the ARW has kept up with the times - adapting, evolving, and staying in line with modern special forces standards. It covers some of the tactics, gear, and training involved, and gives a few examples of how those skills are developed and put to use. There's also a look at the demanding selection process, which I found really interesting.
Overall, I thought it was a solid and informative read. It is straight to the point, with no unnecessary fluff. Understandably, it doesn’t go too deep into specifics for security reasons, but it still gives a clear picture of what the ARW is about and why they matter. I’d definitely recommend it to any Irish reader curious about our Defence Forces. I also really liked that the authors included a recommended reading list at the end - it’s a nice touch for anyone who wants to dig deeper.
The first part gives a solid overview of how the ARW came to be, looking at the social and political climate in Ireland at the time and what led to the decision to set up a special forces unit. It also goes into the training and education the original members went through, and how they worked with other countries’ special forces to learn and improve.
The second part looks at some of the more high profile overseas missions the ARW has taken part in - in places like Mali, Chad, Somalia, and Liberia. Each chapter gives a quick breakdown of what was going on in the region and why the UN got involved. The details about what the ARW actually did are pretty broad, which makes sense given the secretive nature of that kind of work.
The third section talks about how the ARW has kept up with the times - adapting, evolving, and staying in line with modern special forces standards. It covers some of the tactics, gear, and training involved, and gives a few examples of how those skills are developed and put to use. There's also a look at the demanding selection process, which I found really interesting.
Overall, I thought it was a solid and informative read. It is straight to the point, with no unnecessary fluff. Understandably, it doesn’t go too deep into specifics for security reasons, but it still gives a clear picture of what the ARW is about and why they matter. I’d definitely recommend it to any Irish reader curious about our Defence Forces. I also really liked that the authors included a recommended reading list at the end - it’s a nice touch for anyone who wants to dig deeper.
February 13, 2022
snapshot
A quick snapshot of this elite Irish unit that is organized and trained along the same lines as the SAS. Interesting that they rarely operate independently but rather augmenting peacekeeping forces.
A quick snapshot of this elite Irish unit that is organized and trained along the same lines as the SAS. Interesting that they rarely operate independently but rather augmenting peacekeeping forces.
April 6, 2025
Accessible insight into Irelands delta force. Lots of takeaways. Some detail on covert operations missing. Emphasis on training and integrity throughout the book
February 17, 2021
A short, sharp history of the Irish Army's special forces Ranger Wing. Easy to read and enjoyable but a little light on the actual operations of the ARW, which must include some gripping stories. The authors explain this by their deference to the Official Secrets Act, but surely the best books never respect official secrets! Recommended nonetheless.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews