Castlebar Military Barracks

Castlebar Military Barracks was a military installation at Rock Square in Castlebar, County Mayo in Ireland.

Castlebar Military Barracks
Castlebar, County Mayo
Closure ceremony at Castlebar Barracks
Castlebar Military Barracks Location within Ireland
Coordinates	53.855°N 9.296°W
Type	Barracks
Site information
Owner	Mayo County Council
Operator	Irish Army
Site history
Built	1834
Built for	War Office
In use	1834-2012
Garrison information
Garrison	3rd Battalion, the Connaught Rangers

History

The infantry barracks at Castlebar, which were built on the site of an old castle, were completed in 1834.[1] 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.[2] A part of barracks was burnt down by the Irish Republican Army in spring 1922 before the site was secured by the forces of the Irish Free State in summer 1922.[1] The barracks, which latterly were being 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.[3]

The Barracks is sometimes referred to colloquially as "Mitchel Barracks", however, this was never the official designation of the site. Local media simply refers to it as "Castlebar Military Barracks".[4][5][6]

References

1. "Historical tour of Castlebar". Mayo, Ireland. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
2. "3rd Battalion the Connaught Rangers". Hansard. 11 June 1901. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
3. "Barracks closures will see 500 redeployed". Irish Times. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
4. "Funding sought for Mayo military barracks masterplan". Connaught Telegraph.
5. "Funding announced for Castlebar Military Barracks master-plan". Mayo News.
6. "Castlebar Military Barracks opening to the public for Cruinniu tomorrow". Mid West Radio.