Oglaig na hEireann Belt Buckle
Irish Volunteers Oglaig na hEireann Belt Buckle 1913-1921
€45.00
In stock
In stock
Description
Irish Volunteers Oglaig na hEireann Belt Buckle 1913-1921
Reproduction of the original belt buckle worn by volunteers during the Irish War of Independence. In two parts as per original.
That phrase is essentially describing / keyword-ing a belt buckle of Óglaigh na hÉireann (i.e. the Irish Volunteers / IRA) – usually used in eBay listings, auction catalogues, militaria sales etc.
A couple of clarifications so the context is correct:
| Term | What it actually refers to |
|---|---|
| Irish War of Independence | 1919–1921 conflict between the IRA & Crown Forces |
| Óglaigh na hÉireann | Irish name for the IRA / Defence Forces – literally “Volunteers of Ireland” |
original period buckles
Authentic period buckles do exist but they are uncommon.
They are normally:
brass or brass-plated
rectangular (often with rounded corners)
central harp
sometimes with Celtic interlace ring border
sometimes with “ÓGLAIGH NA hÉIREANN” in Irish around the harp
some are plain harp only
Caution:
Very, very many of the buckles you see today are:
1930s Defence Forces issue (post-Treaty – not War of Independence)
1950s–1980s army buckles
1970s–present commemorative replicas
modern militaria re-strikes made for the collectors’ market
