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(Redirected from Palace Barracks, Holywood) Military installation in Northern Ireland

Palace Barracks
Holywood
Palace Barracks
Palace Barracks is located in Northern IrelandPalace BarracksPalace BarracksLocation within Northern Ireland
Coordinates54°37′34″N 5°50′38″W / 54.626°N 05.844°W / 54.626; -05.844
TypeBarracks
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
Operator British Army
Site history
Built1886
In use1886 – present
Garrison information
Occupants1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment

MI5

Holywood Troop, 321 EOD & Search Squadron RLC

Palace Barracks, Holywood is a military installation and the Northern Ireland headquarters of MI5, 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.

In 1933, five 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.

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.

Palace Barracks became the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Irish Regiment in 2008.

In March 2010, it was the site of a bombing. An elderly man was blown off his feet and had to be treated in hospital. The bomb was allegedly driven towards the base in a hijacked taxi. The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the attack.

In 2014, it became the base for the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

In November 2021, 1 SCOTS was disbanded, and reformed to become 1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment.

Current units

Current units stationed at the camp include:

British Army

Royal Navy

The Security Service

  • Northern Ireland Headquarters

Palace Barracks is the declared headquarters of MI5 for their investigations into Northern Ireland-related terrorism.

References

  1. "The History of the Culloden Estate and Spa" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  2. "Palace Barracks Memorial Garden". Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  3. "Army Base Palace Barracks," Domesday Reloaded, BBC website.
  4. "Royal Irish Regiment". Royal Irish Rangers. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  5. Real IRA Claims Barracks Car Bomb Blast Sky News, 12 April 2010.
  6. Sharrock, David (12 April 2010). "Car bomb explodes near MI5 base in Belfast". The Times. London, UK. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  7. "Real IRA admits NI MI5 base bomb". BBC News. 12 April 2010. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  8. "Families' anger as Royal Scots Borderers moved". The Scotsman. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  9. "The Royal Regiment of Scotland | National Army Museum". www.nam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  10. "Future Soldier Guide" (PDF). 25 November 2021. p. 70. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  11. "Belfast-based 1 Scots to lead Army's new Ranger Regiment". Belfast Telegraph. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  12. "152 (North Irish) Regiment RLC look back on 2016". Reserve Forces & Cadets Association Northern Ireland. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  13. "Royal Irish Regiment". Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  14. "Find a Unit - RFCA NI". Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  15. "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.
  16. "MI5 in Northern Ireland". The Security Service. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
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