| Military Star An Bonn Chosantóirí Siochána na Náisiún Aontaithe | |
| Type: | Military decoration |
| Eligibility: | Members of the Permanent Defence Force and to members of the Chaplaincy Service |
| Awarded For: | Being killed or fatally wounded as a direct result of a hostile action or act perpetrated by an enemy, opposing armed force, hostile belligerent or other party, involving the use of firepower or other lethal weapon, in the course of service on approved military duties. |
| Status: | Currently awarded |
| Higher: | United Nations Peacekeepers Medal |
| Lower: | United Nations Medals |
The Military Star (Irish: An Réalt Míleata) is a military decoration awarded to those members of the Irish Defence Forces or Chaplaincy Service who were killed or mortally wounded in the line of duty as a result of hostile action by an armed enemy. Initially only awarded for service related deaths that occurred outside of Ireland, in 2012 the award criteria were changed to allow awards for those killed in Ireland.
The medal is bronze and takes the shape of an eight-pointed star 35mm wide. The obverse of the medal depicts Cúchulainn in death in the centre of the medal. The reverse is blank so that the deceased soldier's name, army number, and date and location of death may be engraved.[1]
The medal hangs from a ribbon 35mm wide. The ribbon is purple with 2mm black stripes at the edge. In the centre is a white stripe 8mm wide bisected by a 2mm stripe of orange. The white stripe is bordered by 4mm green stripes on either side.[1]
The ribbon is suspended at the top from a bronze bar bearing the word, in relief, REMEMBRANCE.[1]
The medal and ribbon were designed by Corporal Dan O'Connell, Defence Forces Ceremonial (now retired).