St Patrick's Barracks

St Patrick's Barracks
Ballymena
St Patrick's Barracks
Location within Northern Ireland
Coordinates 54°56′26″N 06°14′24″W / 54.94056°N 6.24000°W / 54.94056; -6.24000Coordinates: 54°56′26″N 06°14′24″W / 54.94056°N 6.24000°W / 54.94056; -6.24000
Type Barracks
Site information
Owner Ministry of Defence
Operator  British Army
Site history
Built 1937
Built for War Office
In use 1937-2008

St Patrick's Barracks was a military installation in Ballymena.

History

The site was requisitioned by the War Office and the barracks were put into use as the depot of the Royal Ulster Rifles, who had relocated from Victoria Barracks, as soon as they opened in 1937.[1] The barracks were used by the United States Army during the Second World War.[2] The barracks reverted to use as depot of the Royal Ulster Rifles after the War and became the regional centre for infantry training as the North Irish Brigade Depôt in 1964.[3] The barracks went on to be the home of the Royal Irish Rangers when it was formed in 1968 and of the Royal Irish Regiment when it was formed in 1992.[4]

Following an improvement in the security situation, the barracks were closed in 2008 and the Imjin River Memorial, which had been located at the barracks, was moved to Belfast City Hall: the memorial commemorates Irish troops lost in the Battle of Chaegunghyon in January 1951 during the Korean War.[5][6]

The site was given to the Northern Ireland Executive in 2012[7] and is now being redeveloped for housing.[8] The site remains the home of the Royal Irish Regiment Museum.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Saint Patrick's Barracks, Ballymena". Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Second World War in Northern Ireland". Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "North Irish Brigade (Depot)". Hansard. 22 May 1958. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "History of sacrifice and controversy". BBC. 6 October 2006. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "War Memorials Trust". Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "Royal Ulster Rifles Korean Memorial". Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "Barracks to be sports base?". BallymenaTimes. 26 November 2013.
  8. ↑ "McCausland welcomes £3.8million housing scheme at former St Patrick's Barracks in Ballymena". Northern Ireland Executive. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Royal Irish Regiment Museum". Retrieved 18 April 2014.
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