Gough Barracks
History
The barracks were first established on the site in 1773. In 1873 a system of recruiting areas based on counties was instituted under the Cardwell Reforms and the barracks became the depot for the 89th (Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot and the 94th Regiment of Foot. Following the Childers Reforms, the 87th (Prince of Wales's Irish) Regiment of Foot and the 89th (The Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot amalgamated to form the Royal Irish Fusiliers with its depot in the barracks in 1881.
During the Second World War the barracks were used as military accommodation by the United States Army. 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. On the night of 12 December 1956 the barracks was attacked again during the IRA's Border Campaign. The barracks were closed as a depot of the Royal Irish Fusiliers in April 1960.
In 1970 Gough Barracks was re-opened as the Headquarters for the 2nd Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment: the battalion remained there until they moved out to more modern facilities Drumadd Barracks in 1975. The premises were then vacated completely by the British Army in 1976.
A nuclear bunker was established at the site during the Cold War and it continues to be used as a policing base by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
References
- ^ "No pomp or ceremony as keys for Gough Barracks are handed back". News Letter. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ "Training Depots". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 10 February 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "This day in Irish History 12 June 1954: The IRA Raid on Gough Barracks in Armagh". Politics.ie. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ Coogan, Tim (2002). The IRA. New York: St. Martins Press. p. 305. ISBN 0-312-29416-6.
- ^ Potter, p. 27
- ^ "Gough Barracks, Armagh". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 19 January 1977. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ "Nuclear Bunkers". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 6 March 1986. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ Staff Reporter. "Armagh set for brand new police station on Gough Barracks site". Armagh I. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
Sources
- Potter, John (2001). Testimony to Courage: The History of the Ulster Defence Regiment 1969-1992. Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 978-0850528190.