All aspects of military life are regulated by an appropriate Defence Force Regulation (DFR) or Administrative Instruction.
The ceremonial drill to be used at funerals was committed to print in February 1943 when DFR A.6. Deaths and Funerals was first published. However the funeral exercises, including the reversed arms, had been in use since the early days of the Irish state. The article (pictured right) printed in October 1925 in the Army publication of the time, An tÓglách, refers to the symbolism of the funeral exercises.
To view this article in its original context, please click on the image to the right, or to search a complete set of An tÓglách 1918-1933, please click here
DFR A.6. Deaths and Funerals was reviewed and reprinted in December 1962 but no changes were made to the drill. Flick through the interactive copy of the Defence Forces Regulation, right. Details of the funeral exercises start at page 17.
Search through the images, right, to see the Irish Army Funeral Drill demonstrated by Sgt Feeney, 2 Motor Squadron. This demonstration shows the newly introduced FN rifle rather than the Lee Enfield rifle used by the Cadets at Arlington.