There's an old saying that the Irish will die fighting, even if they don't know what they're fighting for. There were a large number of Irish who fought and died in WWI and
a large number WWII when the Republic was neutral (
even 10 pilots in the Battle of Britain).
It seems that such traditions don't die.
Erin go bragh.
BBC:
Irish swell British military ranks
The British military is experiencing a large rise in recruits from the Irish Republic, figures obtained by BBC Radio 4's PM programme have shown.
They reveal a four-fold increase in military personnel from the Irish Republic during the past three years.
Between 2005 and 2006, just 3% of recruits entering the military through its recruitment centres in Northern Ireland came from the Republic.
The figure so far this year is 14%, and officers believe it will rise further........
THE RISE IN IRISH RECRUITS
2005-06: 3%
2006-07: 4.5%
2007-08: 10%
2008-present: 14%