Why were they formed and why?
The Irish Guards were formed on 1ST APRIL 1900 by order of HRH Queen Victoria. It was to commemorate the bravery of the Irish people who fought in the Boar war .

The first recruit! and the Two Regimental marches!
On 21st APRIL 1900, the first recruit JAMES O'BRIEN of Limerick, was enlisted and many followed as a free transfer was offered to all Irishmen serving not on'y in the Guards brigade but also from Line regiments.

The Regiment has 2 regimental marches which are used if they are on parade:

Quick March is used on St Patrick DAY

Slow March used on Let Erin Remember

Shamrock?
The Irsih Guards are presented with a Shamrock on every St Patrick's Day (17th March) by a memeber of the Royal Family.
This dates back to 1901 when HRH Princess Alexandra presented the Battalion with it for the first time.
Until recent years this duty has been carried out by HRH Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother, but due to ill health the honour has been passed to other members of the royal family.

The Irish Guards originaly nicknamed "Bob's Own" after Lord Roberts, the first colonel of the regiment, are affectionately and widely known as "The Micks". No other Regiment of foot guards has such widely accepted nickname.