the corps of artillery of the irish army was founded in 1924, and based in connolly barracks in the curragh camp. the patron saint of the corps is saint barbara, and she appears on the corps insignia sitting astride a cannon. the 31st far came into being on 1 october 2005, and was made up of units from the former reserve structure, the fcá. the units which were disbanded in order to form the new 31st far were the 8th far (cork), 3rd far (tipperary) and part of the 14th infantry battalion also from tipperary.