Gough Barracks

Gough Barracks
Armagh, Northern Ireland

Gough Barracks visible on the left beyond the bungalow
Gough Barracks
Location within Northern Ireland
Coordinates 54°20′56″N 6°38′35″W / 54.34892°N 6.64293°W / 54.34892; -6.64293Coordinates: 54°20′56″N 6°38′35″W / 54.34892°N 6.64293°W / 54.34892; -6.64293
Type Barracks
Site information
Owner Ministry of Defence
Operator  British Army
Site history
Built 1773
In use 1773-1960
1970-1976
Garrison information
Occupants Royal Irish Fusiliers

Gough Barracks was a military installation in Armagh, Northern Ireland.

History

The barracks were first established on the site in 1773 and became the depot of the Royal Irish Fusiliers in the 1880s.[1] During the Second World War the barracks were used as military accommodation by the United States Army.[1] In 1954 an Irish Republican Army unit raided the barracks and seized 340 rifles, 50 Sten guns, 12 Bren guns and a number of small arms.[2] The barracks were closed as depot of the Royal Irish Fusiliers in April 1960.[1]

In 1970 Gough Barracks were re-opened as the Headquarters for 2nd Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment: the battalion remained there until they moved out to more modern facilities Drumadd Barracks in 1975.[3] The premises were then vacated completely by the British Army in 1976.[4]

A nuclear bunker was established at the site during the Cold War[5] and it continues to be used as a policing base by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "No pomp or ceremony as keys for Gough Barracks are handed back". News Letter. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  2. "This day in Irish History 12 June 1954: The IRA Raid on Gough Barracks in Armagh". Politics.ie. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  3. Potter, p. 27
  4. "Gough Barracks, Armagh". Hansard. 19 January 1977. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  5. "Nuclear Bunkers". Hansard. 6 March 1986. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  6. "Police records destroyed in Armagh". Ulster TV. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2014.

Sources

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, October 12, 2014. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.