Type Barracks In use 1889-Present Built for War Office | Operator Irish Army Year built 1889 Occupant Irish Army | |
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Occupants 1st Infantry Battalion, Irish Army | ||
Renmore Barracks (Irish: Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa) is a military installation in Renmore, Ireland
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History
The barracks were built by Colleran Brothers, a Dublin-based contractor, and completed in 1881. Their creation took place as part of the Cardwell Reforms which encouraged the localisation of British military forces. The barracks became the depot for the 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot and the 88th Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers). Following the Childers Reforms, the 88th Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers) and 94th Regiment of Foot amalgamated to form the Connaught Rangers with its depot in the barracks in 1881.
The Connaught Rangers was disbanded at the time of Irish Independence in 1922. The barracks were taken over by the Irish Army at that time and then renamed Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa after Liam Mellows, an Irish Republican, in 1952. The barracks are now home to the 1st Infantry Battalion.
Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa Museum
Renmore Barracks features a museum that recalls the history of the Connaught Rangers, as well as Renmore Barracks' later role as home to the 1st Infantry Battalion of the Irish Army. Irish soldiers engaging in UN Peacekeeping in Congo, Cyprus, Lebanon, Chad and Afghanistan are remembered at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa Museum. An axe used in the Niemba Ambush in the Congo in which nine Irish soldiers were killed is featured. The museum has forged links with the Connaught Rangers Association, established in Boyle in 2002.
Unlike other military museums like Collins Barracks Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa Museum is not open to the public. However visitors can make an appointment to visit by contacting the museum curator.