So here's the story:
In 1989 the BAe Harrier II GR.5 started replacing Harrier GR.1/3's in RAF service. The RAF was looking for buyers for the newer airframes and offered them up at a discounted price. The Irish Air Corps, the newest member of the NATO Air Forces as of 1986, was in the market for a jet aircraft that would work for both "air superiority" and ground attack roles saw the discounted Harriers as the perfect solution to their requirements. The IAC purchased 30 GR, and 6 T.4A airframes for 3 squadrons, 2 Combat, one for home defense and one for UN Peacekeeping and NATO operations, each squadron rotates, and 1 Training squadron. And they arranged to have the Blue Fox radar system added to the GR aircraft, similar to the BAe Sea Harriers currently in service with the FAA. Those aircraft were delivered in November of 1990 and saw their first action in Bosnia supporting UN troops against Bosnian Serb aggressive actions. Shown here is one of those examples:
In the entire operational history of the Hawker Siddeley Harriers in IAC service, only two were lost, one in an advanced training accident and the other to a SAM in the Balkans conflict, both pilots ejected safely. During the Balkans conflict, the Harriers scored 8 total kills, 3 of which were fixed wing aircraft. 1 MiG-21, and two Su-25 Frogfoots. One of the Frogfoots was brought down with cannon, while the other and the MiG-21 were brought down by AIM-9L Sparrow AAMs. The remaining 5 kills were 2 Hind-D gunships and 3 Hip improvised gunships.
In 2002 the FAA announced the retirement of the BAe Sea Harrier FA.2's, most of which were modified from FRS.1 airframes. Ireland, once again, came to the rescue of the aircraft that they enjoyed using. When the last operational Harriers were retired in 2006, the IAC purchased again 30 of those aircraft to replace their FSR.2 Harriers, and 6 T.4N's to replace the T.4A trainers. Those aircraft became operational in early 2007. The most recent action the "Sea" Harriers have seen is NATO Action in Libya in 2011. Here is an example of one of those aircraft that served in Libya:
During Libyan operations, only one kill was made by the IAC, a Libyan Mirage F.1, that had just finished strafing Libyan Rebel forces.
Enjoy!