laststandonzombieisland

While everyone else is scrambling to grab a touch of green today, the world’s most heavily armed bunch of Irish regulars typically wear scarlet, black and blue, at least those on duty in London anyway.

You see the “Micks” of the Irish Guards wear a blue plume on the right side of their bearskins. The reason is that blue is the color of the mantle and sash of the Order of St. Patrick, an order of chivalry founded by George III of the United Kingdom for the Kingdom of Ireland in 1783. The Irish Guards also take their cap star and motto from the order, and a shamrock badge is on each side of the guardsman’s collar.

Finally, the regiment takes its motto, “Quis Separabit”, or “Who shall separate us?” from the Order of St Patrick.

Then again, it should be noted that on St Patrick’s Day fresh shamrock is presented to members of the regiment, a tradition that dates back to the early 1900s.