Castlebar Military Barracks

Castlebar Military Barracks, sometimes referred to as Mitchell Barracks,[1][2][3][4] was a military installation at Rock Square in Castlebar, County Mayo in Ireland. The barracks was closed in 2012 and sold to Mayo County Council with an agreement to lease a portion of the barracks back to the Defence Forces for the use of a reserve unit.[5]

Castlebar Military Barracks
Castlebar, County Mayo
Closure ceremony at Castlebar Barracks
Castlebar Military Barracks is located in Ireland
Castlebar Military Barracks
Castlebar Military Barracks
Location within Ireland
Coordinates53°51′18″N 9°17′46″W / 53.855°N 9.296°W / 53.855; -9.296
TypeBarracks
Site information
OwnerMayo County Council
OperatorRepublic of Ireland Irish Army
Site history
Built1834
Built forWar Office
In use1834-2012
Garrison information
Garrison3rd Battalion, the Connaught Rangers

History

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The infantry barracks at Castlebar, which were built on the site of an old castle, were completed in 1834.[6] The barracks became the home of the 3rd Battalion, the Connaught Rangers in the late 19th century and it was at Castlebar that the battalion was disbanded in 1901.[7]

A part of barracks was burnt down by the Irish Republican Army in spring 1922.[8] Blocks E/F and J/K/L and the hospital were completely destroyed[9] before the site was secured by the forces of the Irish Free State in summer 1922.[6]

On the night of 28 February 1957 the St. Patricks Boys National School building was burnt down, on 3 April 1957 the school was temporally relocated to blocks G and H of the barracks. A replacement school building was opened on 9 November 1961.[10][11]

The barracks, which latterly were used as a training camp by the Reserve Defence Forces, closed in March 2012 and the site has since been acquired by Mayo County Council.[12]

On 29 January 2016 when workers were probing the ceiling of block A they discovered a human skull.[13]

Although the barracks has sometimes been referred to as "Mitchell Barracks",[14] local media simply refers to it as "Castlebar Military Barracks".[15][16][17]

References

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  1. ^ "Funding sought for Mayo military barracks masterplan". Connaught Telegraph.
  2. ^ "Funding announced for Castlebar Military Barracks master-plan". Mayo News.
  3. ^ "Castlebar Military Barracks opening to the public for Cruinniu tomorrow". Mid West Radio.
  4. ^ "Just 44 women joined Defence Forces last year despite new recruitment efforts". Irish Times.
  5. ^ "Alan Shatter Minister, Department of Justice, Equality and Defence - Dail Debate". Kildarestreet.com. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Historical tour of Castlebar". Mayo, Ireland. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  7. ^ "3rd Battalion the Connaught Rangers". Hansard. 11 June 1901. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Castlebar Infantry Barracks, GORTEENDRUNAGH, Castlebar, MAYO". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Memories of the military barracks in Castlebar". Connaught Telegraph. 20 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  10. ^ "History of Our School". St Patricks Boys National School. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Memories of the military barracks in Castlebar". Connaught Telegraph. 20 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Barracks closures will see 500 redeployed". Irish Times. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  13. ^ "Skull found at old military barracks". Connaught Telegraph. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Alan Shatter Minister, Department of Justice, Equality and Defence - Dail Debate". Kildarestreet.com. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Funding sought for Mayo military barracks masterplan". Connaught Telegraph.
  16. ^ "Funding announced for Castlebar Military Barracks master-plan". Mayo News.
  17. ^ "Castlebar Military Barracks opening to the public for Cruinniu tomorrow". Mid West Radio.