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THE HISTORY OF SARSFIELD BARRACKS
THE HISTORY OF
SARSFIELD BARRACKS
By Lt Jonathan Hughes
Sarsfield Barracks, then known as
New Barracks, Limerick, was built
between September 1795-1798, when
a land lease of 999 years was signed
by Thomas Monsell. The barracks
was able to accommodate over
1,000 troops. The cost of building the
barracks was £13,500; which in today's
terms is over €1.2 million. In the
course of its history, soldiers from the
barracks served in many countries and
theatres of war throughout the world.
These include British conflicts such
as the Crimea, South Africa, Gallipoli
and the WWI battlefields of Europe as
well as DF deployments to the Congo,
Liberia, Chad, East Timor, Cyprus, Syria,
Lebanon to name but a few. Many
brave men and women served and
continue to serve here.
The barracks has seen its share
of tragedy also, such as the story of
Captain Thomas Keane, 'C' Company,
2nd Battalion, Mid Limerick Brigade
IRA., who was the only IRA. prisoner
executed by British Forces in Limerick
during the War of Independence.
Capt Keane was charged with two
offences: levying war against His
Majesty the King and being improperly
in possession of a revolver. He was
executed within the barracks walls
on 4th June 1921. Today, a monument
erected by the soldiers of the Barracks
stands at the place of his execution.
In 1922, New Barracks housed
the British Army's 18th Brigade
commanded by Brigadier Louis S.
Wyatt. There was no official handover
of New Barracks to the National Army
as British forces stationed here were
ordered to withdraw on 21st March
1922. Approximately 400 soldiers from
the Royal Welsh Fusiliers paraded
from New Barracks to the train station
Burning of New Barracks by Anti-Treaty forces 1922
First World War recruits in New Barracks
