Waterford Barracks (Irish: Beairic Phort Láirge) was a military installation in Waterford, Ireland.

Waterford Barracks
Beairic Phort Láirge
Waterford
Irish Guards Mascot at Waterford Barracks in 1917
Waterford Barracks is located in Ireland
Waterford Barracks
Waterford Barracks
Location within Ireland
Coordinates52°15′19″N 7°07′11″W / 52.25525°N 7.11986°W / 52.25525; -7.11986
TypeBarracks
Site information
OperatorRepublic of Ireland Irish Army
Site history
Builtcirca 1799
Built forWar Office
In use1799–1922

History edit

 
Group of Royal Artillery Sergeants at the Cavalry Barracks, Waterford, c1900 (National Library of Ireland)

There were two sets of barracks in Waterford: the infantry barracks on the North side of Barrack Street and the artillery barracks on the South side. It is not known when the infantry barracks were established[1] but it is accepted that the artillery barracks were built in the aftermath of the Irish Rebellion and completed at the end of the 18th century.[2] During the First World War the artillery barracks, at that time known as the cavalry barracks, served as the 1st cavalry depot providing accommodation for the 5th Royal Irish Lancers, the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, the 12th Royal Lancers, the 16th The Queen's Lancers, the 17th Lancers and the 21st Lancers.[3]

During the Irish Civil War the barracks were seized by the anti-treaty forces; however in the ensuing battle there were many direct hits from gunfire.[4] By the end of the Irish Civil War the infantry barracks were in a very dilapidated state[5] and the artillery barracks had been largely destroyed when a direct hit exploded in the magazine.[4] The artillery barracks were gone by the 1930s and were replaced by St. Carthage's Avenue.[6][7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Questions Oral Answers - Waterford Military Barracks". 17 February 1972. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Heritage Walk map" (PDF). Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  3. ^ "The locations of the Cavalry depots". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  4. ^ a b "The fourth siege of Waterford". 29 December 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Waterford City Infantry Barracks". Waterford County Images. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  6. ^ "Holy Family Past and Present". Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  7. ^ "County Waterford, Waterford, Barrack Street, Artillery Barracks, Houses". Retrieved 7 December 2014.