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.