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THE HISTORY OF CUSTUME BARRACKS
THE HISTORY OF
CUSTUME BARRACKS
By Lt Dave Graham
Photos provided by Lt Dave Graham
Custume Barracks was established
at the conclusion of the Jacobite war,
when much of the town was in ruins
following the great siege of 1691.
In the years immediately following
the conclusion of the Williamite and
Jacobite Wars in Ireland, the trend of
billeting troops in local civilian houses
started to change. It was decided that
a permanent barracks would be built
in Athlone on a site west of the River
Shannon to the north of the сastle, and
yet within the ramparts of the old town.
A permanent barracks was established
on the site in 1697 when the group of
buildings known as 'Pump Square' were
constructed. As the oldest continuously
occupied barracks in Europe, Custume
Barracks has played a vital role within
the community since its construction
began. In the years leading up to the
War of Independence and the takeover
of the barracks, there were multiple
additions to the infrastructure and
defensive structures in the barracks,
including the construction of Grace
Road in 1851. Today Custume Barracks
encompasses approximately 20 acres
and various units including organic
armour artillery and engineering assets
and maintains close ties to Athlone and
the wider hinterland.
In 1922 the barracks, then known as
Victoria Barracks, housed a substantial
British garrison, commanded by
Colonel Hare. On 28th February 1922
the barracks was formally handed
over to Commandant General Seán
Mac Eoin of the National Army and
subsequently renamed Custume
Barracks. Contemporary reports of
the events of that historic day, record
that at approximately 11 o'clock,
Commandant General Mac Eoin along
with Colonel Commandant Cooney and
Colonel Commandant Lawlor, entered
the Barracks and were received
by Colonel Hare of the British Army.
It was reported that as many as 20,000
people may have turned out to witness
the withdrawal of the British Troops
and the occupation of the barracks
and castle.
The barracks was subsequently named
Comdt-Gen MacEoin addressing the public
and Troops on the Barrack Square
Raising of the flag above Athlone Castle by Comdt-Gen Mac Eoin
