Royal Irish Rangers The Royal Irish Rangers ( 27th ( Inniskilling ) , 83rd and 87th ) ( abbreviated as " RANGERS " ) was a regular infantry regiment of the British Army . Creation . The Royal Irish Rangers came into being on 1 July 1968 through the amalgamation of the three remaining Irish infantry regiments of the British Army : The date was initially known as " Vesting Day " ( and then " Rangers Day " ) , emphasising that the traditions of the old regiments were " vested " in the new large regiment . Soon after creation in December 1968 , and as part of a general reduction in the Army , the 3rd Battalion ( former Royal Irish Fusiliers ) was disbanded . The three regiments had old and differing traditions ( Rifle & Fusilier ) and to avoid favouring one above another , a unique designation " Rangers " was adopted . The title had not existed in the British Army since 1922 . The title is also used by the US Army , Canada , Ireland and Pakistan . With the creation of the " Divisions of Infantry " , the Royal Irish Rangers became part of the King ' s Division , along with regiments from the north of England . This continued until 1992 and Options for Change . The Ulster Defence Regiment and The Royal Irish Rangers amalgamated to form The Royal Irish Regiment . Uniform . Accommodating the traditions of the three regiments required compromise : Service . The Rangers served in , " inter alia " , the following places : Options for change . Under this reorganisation , the Royal Irish Rangers were amalgamated with the Ulster Defence Regiment to form the new The Royal Irish Regiment ( 27th ( Inniskilling ) 83rd and 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment ) . Territorial Army . " The Territorial battalions did likewise to form the 4th Battalion Royal Irish Rangers ( North Irish Militia ) which also included the sole London Irish Rifles company and the 5th Battalion Royal Irish Rangers . The two TA battalions trained as units until 1993 when following the Options for Change White Paper , they were merged to form the 4 / 5th Battalion Royal Irish Rangers ( Volunteers ) or 4 / 5 RANGERS . In 1998 , the Government conducted a Strategic Defence Review which concluded that the Territorial Army needed to be restructured to meet the new defence posture . As part of that plan , 4 / 5 RANGERS reduced to a small battalion headquarters plus administrative element , two rifle companies , the North Irish Horse squadron , a machine gun platoon and an assault pioneer platoon . The new structure which was effective from 1 July 1999 is now called The Royal Irish Rangers . " ( Palace Barracks Memorial Garden The name of the Royal Irish Rangers was maintained through the Territorial Army battalion in Northern Ireland , which nominally exists to augment the Royal Irish Regiment ' s ORBAT , but can be deployed in support of any regular unit . In 2007 , following the disbanding of the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment , the Royal Irish Rangers TA were renamed as the new 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment . Roll of honour . Victoria Cross ( pre - 1968 Regiments ) . Recipients of the Victoria Cross : Music of the regiment . Regimental Quick March . The Regimental Quick March is Killaloe . It was written around 1887 by an Irish composer , Robert Martin , for the London Musical " Miss Esmeralda " . The lyrics relate the story of a French teacher attempting to make himself understood to a difficult Killaloe class . Originally in 2 / 4 time , it was made well known in military circles by a cousin of the composer - Lt . Charles Martin of the 88th Connaught Rangers ( The Devil ' s Own ) . He composed new lyrics , in 6 / 8 time , celebrating his Regiment ' s fame . No mention is made of the tune in the Regimental history , but there is an explanation that may account for the shout or yell in the military version of Killaloe . Historically , in the lst . Battalion ( Connaught Rangers ) , formerly the 88th , a favourite march tune was " Brian Boru " played when marching through a town - often after a hot and heavy march . On such occasions , and at a time given by the Sergeant Major , the Band would pause and all ranks would give a " Connaught Yell " . The march became popular among the other Irish Regiments and various other sets of lyrics were devised . On parade , soldiers of the Royal Irish Rangers gave a spine - tingling " Ranger Yell " ; this continues with the Royal Irish Regiment . The first known recording of Killaloe was made by Richard Dimbleby when serving as a BBC war correspondent in Northern France shortly before Dunkirk . The " Famous Irish Regiment " Dimbleby reports playing as they march past is not named , but would have been either the Royal Irish Fusiliers or the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers . Again in 1944 , the BBC recorded The 1st . Battalion , Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Pipes & Drums playing Killaloe , by then adopted unofficially as the march of the 38th ( Irish ) Brigade , during the approach to Monte Cassino . Killaloe was adopted by The Royal Irish Rangers on its formation and again later by the Royal Irish Regiment on its amalgamation in 1992 . The soldiers had their own words to the tune which would be sung , " sotto voce " , as they marched : Regimental Slow March . Previously the March of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was Eileen Alannah , an Irish ballad . Tercentenary . At the Tercentenary parade celebrated in Osnabrück in 1989 , the Irish Rangers were able to parade a combined band from 1 & 2 R IRISH together with the Bugles , Pipers & Drums from both . Recorded music . The Band , Bugles , Pipes & Drums have released CDs including Pipes & Drums of Ireland and Heritage Of Ireland