Historical Postcard Collection: Tipperary - The Barracks
Bailiúchán Chártaí Poist Stairiúla: Tiobraid Árann – An Dún
At the height of their powers, during World War I, military installations in Tipperary Town were host to 4,000 soldiers, and these played a vital role in both the economic and political affairs of the town for over forty years. The Barracks was established in the late 1870s, but it was not the first home of the British Army in the town; during the mid 1860s, when a Fenian Rising was widely mooted, Tipperary Workhouse was taken over by the military as a temporary base. The barracks accommodation was supplemented by the establishment of timber structures outside the town, near Scallagheen, which were known as the Hutments. During the First World War the presence of the barracks greatly added to Tipperary Town's prosperity, as a steady stream of soldiers returning from and departing to Europe's trenches ensured plentiful trade for the town's industries. As a result, relations between locals and soldiers in the town were fairly cordial, and even most nationalists in the town looked upon the barracks with nothing worse than indifference.
The Rise of Nationalism
This situation was to change enormously, however, with the outbreak of the War of Independence in 1919. The barracks then became the base from which the rebels of the locality were hunted down, and a number of I.R.A. members (among them Capt. James Hickey, Lt. William O'Brien and Adjutant Martin Purcell) met their deaths within the barracks' walls. The British Army withdrew from the barracks in February 1922, and it was quickly re-occupied by Irregular forces. As the Civil War progressed it became apparent to the I.R.A. that they would not be able to hold the fortification in the face of a Free State assault, and so, on 16 July 1922, the billet was burned. Comparably little evidence of the barracks remains today, the hospital, water tower and entrance to the officers' quarters being the exceptions.
Sean Treacy Park G.A.A. field today covers much of what once was the very extensive Tipperary Barracks.
Source - Marnane, "The Excel Guide to the Heritage of Tipperary Town".
Read more about:
- Augustinian Abbey
- C.J. Kickham Monument
- The Barracks
- Athassel Abbey
- Manchester Martry's Monument
- Click here for the complete online collection of postcards
Browse the Historical Postcard Collection:
Clonmel - Nenagh - Tipperary - Roscrea - Templemore - Carrick on Suir - Cashel - Cahir - Thurles - The Glen of Aherlow
last updated on: Friday, 03-Feb-12 19:31:58 GMT
Ag barr a gcumhachtaí, le linn an Chéad Chogadh Domhanda, bhíodh 4,000 saighdiúir ag maireachtáil i bhfoirgnimh mhíleata i mBaile Thiobraid Árann, agus bhí ról tabhachtach ag na foirgnimh seo i gcursaí eacnamaíochta agus polaitiúla sa bhaile ar feadh 40 bliain. Bunaíodh an Dún sna 1870daí, ach ní ba ea é an chéad áit chónaithe a bhí ag Airm na Breataine sa bhaile. Sna 1860daí, ghabh an airm Teach Oibre Thiobraid Árann ar bhonn sealadach chun dul i gcoinne Éirí Amach Finíneach nár tharla sa deireadh. Tógadh struchtúir adhmaid ar a dtugtaí na Hutments thart ar an mbaile chun cur leis an Dún. Sa Chéad Chogadh Domhanda chabhraigh an Dún go mór le rath an bhaile, toisc sruth leanúnach saighdiúirí ag teacht agus imeacht ó na trinsí sa Eoraip, rud a chothaigh trádáil do thionsclaíocht an bhaile. Mar sin, bhí gaol cáirdiúil go leor ag muintir an bhaile leis an Dún agus níor bhreatnaigh siad air le haon rud níos measa ná neamhshuim.
Éirí an Náisiúnachais
D’athraigh an scéal go mór le briseadh amach Chogadh na Saoirse i 1919. Ba as an Dún a tháinig na trúpaí a bhíodh sa tóir ar na reibiliúnaigh áitiúla, agus maraíodh roinnt bhaill den I.R.A. (ina measc an Captaen Capt. James Hickey, an Leifteanant William O'Brien agus an tAidiúnachMartin Purcell) taobh istigh de bhallaí an Dúin. Tharraing Airm na Breataine as an Dún i mí Feabhra 1922, agus ghabh na Neamhrialtaigh é sar i bhfad. Sa Chogadh Cathartha, thuig an I.R.A. nach mbeadh siad ábalta an Dún a chosaint ó ionsaí ón Saorstát, agus dhóigh siad é ar 16 Iúil 1922. Níl mórán fianaise fisiciúil fágtha den Dún, ach amháin an ospidéal, an túr uisce agus bealach isteach cheathrúna na n-oifigeach.
Tá Páirc Imeartha CLG Sheáin Uí Threasaigh ar an suíomh a bhí ag an Dún.
Foinse - Marnane, "The Excel Guide to the Heritage of Tipperary Town".
Léigh níos mó faoi:
Brabhsáil an bailiúchán chártaí poist stairiúla:
Cluain Meala - Nenagh - Tipperary - Roscrea - Templemore - Carrick on Suir - Cashel - Cahir - Thurles - Gleann Eatharlaí
nuashonraithe ar: Friday, 03-Feb-12 19:31:58 GMT