[Political Interest]

During the Victorian era two thirds of the British army were Irish. Why did the UK recruit so many from Ireland and why not from England, Scotland and Wales?

[Prosthetic Conscience]

The figures weren't quite extreme as you suggest - "Between 1830-1878 on average the Irish made up 28 per cent of the army". But there's an article about it at that link.

[Decky]

Ireland was very very very poor PI, even by the standards of the time. Lots of Irishmen joined up since it was that or starve (and as PC has pointed out it wasn't 2/3rds).

[skeptic-1]

During the Victorian era two thirds of the British army were Irish. Why did the UK recruit so many from Ireland and why not from England, Scotland and Wales?

P I, P C and deckey:

The question alone staggers the imagination that the causes of event seem unknown.

Although "fading" the scars remain to this day fueling the fires of eternal remembrance.

Too Bad !