27th Infantry Battalion ( Ireland ) The 27 Infantry Battalion ( 27 Inf Bn ; Irish : " 27ú Cathlán Coisithe " ) is one of the seven infantry battalion s of the Irish Army . The battalion was established on 1 September 1973 and forms part of the 2nd Brigade . The Battalion is based at Aiken Barracks , in Dundalk , County Louth . History . Following the outbreak of violence in the north of Ireland in 1969 , know as The Troubles , the Irish Government sent soldiers to the border area . Initially four company sized infantry groups were formed to operate along the border , however as the troubles escalated and with no end in sight it was decided to establish two infantry battalions as a permanent replacement for the border infantry groups . On 1 September 1973 the 27 Infantry Battalion and 28 Infantry Battalion were established . From its activation the 27 Infantry Battalion ' s Headquarters , Headquarters Company and A Company have been based in Dundalk . B Company was based in Gormanston , C Company in Cootehill and Support Company in Castleblaney . C Company was later disestablished . In 1998 B and SP Companies were based in Monaghan until they both moved to Dundalk in 2009 . In 2012 B Company was based again in Gormanston . In 2013 three reserve Companies were added to the Battalion ' s establishment : C Company - Cavan , D Company - Dundalk , and E Company - Navan . The first officer commanding of the 27 Infantry Battalion was Lieutenant Colonel Louis Hogan . Hogan along with his second in command designed the battalion flash . The flash symbolism is based on the Irish mythological warrior Cúchulainn , given the relevance to the battalions area of operations and headquarters . The sword and two spears represent those presented to Cúchulainn by King Conchobar . The shape of the flash incorporates the angular sloped armour of the Panhard M3 armoured personnel carrier used by the battalion . The colours are saffron and purple . The saffron represents the colour of the cloaks worn by Irish mythical warriors the Fianna and purple is the traditional colour of infantry . The battalion march is Clare ' s Dragoons , chosen by Louis Hogan who was originally from County Clare . Border and Aid To Civil Powers . Throughout the troubles the 27 Infantry Battalion ' s largest commitment was providing checkpoints on border crossings in support to the Garda Síochána . Support to the Gardaí was known as Aid To Civil Powers ( ATCP ) . Other ATCP tasks include escorting large sums of cash , industrial explosives and high security prisoners as well as guarding Portlaoise Prison , Ireland ' s only high security prison . In 1979 the battalion provided security at Killineer near Drogheda during Pope John Paul II visit to Ireland . In 2011 the battalion secured Islandbridge area in Dublin during the Queen of Britain ' s state visit and the secured Dublin airport for US president Barack Obama s visit a few days later . Aid To Civil Authority . Another role carried out by the 27 Infantry Battalion is Aid To Civil Authority ( ATCA ) . In 1978 and again in 1987 the battalion provided an emergency fire fighting service when Dundalk Fire Brigade went on strike . In 2001 the battalion was deployed to assist during the foot - and - mouth disease outbreak . In late 2010 during heavy snow and a deep freeze that lasted weeks the battalion was deployed to assist in snow relief efforts , clearing snow throughout Dundalk and Drogheda town centers as well as transporting nurses to hospitals . Overseas . Soldiers of the 27 Infantry Battalion have served in numerous Peacekeeping missions around the world , most notably in Lebanon since 1978 where two of the battalions members died in service of peace , Private Patrick Wright in 1988 and Private Michael McNeela who was killed in action in 1989 . The 27 Infantry Battalion celebrated 40 years since its establishment with a parade in Dundalk town on 31 August 2013 . Sub units . Headquarter Company - Aiken Barracks , Dundalk . < br > A Company - Aiken Barracks , Dundalk . < br > B Company - Gormanston Camp . < br > Support Company - Aiken Barracks , Dundalk . < br > Reserve Companies C Company ( Reserve ) - Cavan . < br > D Company ( Reserve ) - Dundalk . < br > E Company ( Reserve ) - Navan . < br >