Palace Barracks
Palace Barracks | |
---|---|
Holywood | |
![]() Palace Barracks | |
Coordinates | 54°37′25″N 05°48′50″W / 54.62361°N 5.81389°W |
Type | Barracks |
Site information | |
Owner | Ministry of Defence |
Operator | ![]() |
Site history | |
Built | 1886 |
In use | 1886 – present |
Garrison information | |
Occupants | 1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment |
Palace Barracks, Holywood is a British Army installation in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland.
History
Palace Barracks occupies the site of a palatial house known as "Ardtullagh", the home of the Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore until it was bought by the UK War Office in 1886.[1]
In 1933, six children of Lance Corporal Harry Poole and his wife, Mary, lost their lives from asphyxiation following gas poisoning in the married quarters of the barracks.[2]
During the roughly three decades of "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland, the barracks served as the home base for battalions rotating through the province, especially those on a two-year "accompanied" tour with their families. A wide variety of facilities are available for soldiers to use off duty, including a swimming pool, squash courts, saunas, bars and a gymnasium.[3]
Palace Barracks has been the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Irish Regiment since 2008 and the home base of several squadrons of the 152 (North Irish) Regiment RLC. In March 2010, it was the site of a bombing,[4] one of several attacks carried out by "hardline Republicans" in 2010. In 2014, it became the base for the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland.[5]
It is also the declared headquarters of the MI5 for their investigations into Northern Ireland-related terrorism.[6]
Current units
Current units stationed at the camp include:
British Army
- 1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment[7][8]
- Regimental Headquarters, 152 (North Irish) Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps[9]
- 227 (Belfast) Headquarters Squadron
- 220 (Belfast) Tanker Squadron
- 400 Petroleum Operator Squadron
- Regimental Headquarters, Royal Irish Regiment[10]
Royal Navy
- Belfast Detachment, Royal Marines Reserve Scotland[11]
Security Service
- Northern Ireland Headquarters[12]
References
- ^ "The History of the Culloden Estate and Spa" (PDF). Retrieved 5 April 2014.
- ^ "Palace Barracks Memorial Garden". Retrieved 5 April 2014.
- ^ "Army Base Palace Barracks," Domesday Reloaded, BBC website.
- ^ Real IRA Claims Barracks Car Bomb Blast Sky News, 12 April 2010.
- ^ "Families' anger as Royal Scots Borderers moved". The Scotsman. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ "MI5 in Northern Ireland". The Security Service. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
- ^ "Belfast-based 1 Scots to lead Army's new Ranger Regiment". Belfast Telegraph. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "Future Soldier Guide" (PDF). 25 November 2021. p. 70. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "152 (North Irish) Regiment RLC look back on 2016". Reserve Forces & Cadets Association Northern Ireland. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
- ^ "Royal Irish Regiment". Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Find a Unit - RFCA NI". Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Palace Barracks explosion: Major review of security ordered at MI5 base in wake of bomb blast". Belfast Telegraph. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- 1886 establishments in Ireland
- 2010 in Northern Ireland
- Car and truck bombings in Northern Ireland
- Terrorism in Northern Ireland
- Military of Northern Ireland
- Barracks in Northern Ireland
- Military history of County Down
- Royal Irish Regiment (1992)
- Installations of the British Army
- Terrorist incidents in the United Kingdom in 2010
- 2010s crimes in Northern Ireland
- 2010 crimes in Ireland