An Cosantóir

16 HANDOVER OF STEPHENS BARRACKS HANDOVER OF STEPHENS BARRACKS The centenary of the Civil War period, 1922-23 is one of huge significance for Stephens Barracks and the 3rd Infantry Battalion. Not only did February 2022 mark the centenary of the handover of the barracks – one of the very first taken over by the fledging IRA/National Army – but the Battalion celebrates its centenary as the Defence Forces' oldest unit in January 2023. The Unit insignia contains the Red Hand of Ulster, reflecting the origins of the Unit in the North-West of the Country and our distinctive red and white livery is one of the origins of the Unit's alternative name of 'The Bloods'. The Unit's motto is 'Dílis Go Bráth', or 'Loyal Always' and has existed since the foundation of the Unit at a time of great uncertainty in the new Irish State. It signifies the Unit's loyalty to the State and each individual member's loyalty to the Unit. While 3 Inf Bn is the primary unit stationed in Stephens Barracks, today there are also detachments from the Central Medical Unit (CMU), 1 Bde Ordnance, 1 Bde Tpt and 1 Bde MP Coy in supporting roles. No 1 Security Company, and the Directorate of Military Police, a Branch of Defence Forces Headquarters, are co-located here and are an integral part of the fabric of the barracks. Our commemorations for the handover centenary took place on Sunday 6th February, the weekend date allowing for maximum attendance from soldiers' families and from the wider community in the southeast. In honour of our forebears, the Battalion OC Lt Col Declan Crummey led the unit along the same route, from the Castle Parade, up John Street and into the barracks. Despite the time of year, we were blessed with fine weather and hundreds of people, both tourists and locals lined the streets to watch the spectacle and hear the impressive music of the Band of 1 Bde, led by Capt Fergal Carrol. Contemporary reports mention that the Saint Patrick's Brass band played 'stirring national airs' and the same band was present on the barrack square to meet the marching body for our centenary commemoration. Remarkably, some of the senior members of St. Patrick's Band were the children of members who had played on the day of the original handover. Such historic connections were repeated in many other ways, for example with the presence of the Mayor of Kilkenny, Mr. Andrew McGuinness and the Cathaoirleach, Ms. Fidelis Doherty, in recognition of the presence of their predecessor in 1922, Mayor Peter De Loughry. In keeping with tradition, the departing British Army troops had broken the flagpole and an improvised poplar trunk had been pressed into service by Brigadier O'Dwyer's troops in order to raise the National Flag for the first time. Amazingly, our barrack museum, under the curatorship of Pte Jim O'Keefe and Comdt (retd) Larry Scallon, unveiled what is thought to be the original flagpole, which had been rediscovered in a disused store just weeks before the centenary. By Comdt Stephen Mac Eoin & Pte Jim O'Keefe Photos by Airman Sam Gibney 3 Inf Bn lead by Capt Murphy marching through the streets of Kilkenny Sp Coy 3 Inf Bn on parade

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