The medal was established in October 1944.

It was awarded to officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the Irish Defence Forces, including those in the Army Nursing and Chaplaincy Services and the Construction Corps, for service during the Emergency period.

A minimum of 365 days of either continuous or cumulative service was required.

The medal is bronze with a woman holding a sword and a dog on the obverse, with the inscription “Re na Práinne” (The Emergency). The reverse has an olive branch with the dates “1939” and “1946” and an inscription in Irish denoting the recipient’s specific service.

The ribbon is red with two white stripes.

There were eleven different reverse inscriptions to denote the various units and services within the Irish Defence Forces. They are: 26th Infantry Battalion, Navy and Air Corps, Reserve Defence Forces, Local Security Force, Air Raid Precautions Agency, Maritime Inscription, Second Line Reserve, First Aid Division of Irish Red Cross, Volunteer Aid Division of Irish Red Cross, Army Nursing Service, Chaplaincy Service.

They are:

.
1. Na Fórsaí Cosanta (Defence Forces). Issued to regular Army, Air
Corps and Marine Service.
2. An Slua Muiri (Maritime Inscription). Issue to members of the
Volunteer Naval Reserve.
3. An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (LDF). Issued to members of this force
who were organised as a Volunteer Local Force.
4. Fórsa na nÓglach. Second Line Reserve (Specialists).
5. 26ú Cathlán (26 Battalion). Composed almost entirely from members
of the Old Irish Republican Army, many of whom saw action against
British Crown Forces prior to 1921 (Similar to LDF).
6. Seirbhíse Áltranais an Airm (Army Nursing Service).
7. An Seirbhís Séiplíneachta (Chaplaincy Service).
8. Caomhnóirí Áitiúla (Local Security Force). An auxiliary regional
Volunteer Police Force.
9. Ranna Céad Cabhrac Cumann Croise Deirge na hÉireann (Irish
Red Cross Society, Volunteer Aid Section).
10. Ranna Cabhair Dheontachta Cumann Croise Deirge na hÉireann
(Irish Red Cross Society, First Aid Division).
11. Na Seirbhísí Réamhcuraim in aghaidh Aer-Ruathar (Air Raid
Precautions Origanisation.).

A bronze clasp with the dates “1939-1946” was awarded for each additional two years of service.