An Cosantóir

43 were busy packing the last of their equipment for transportation to Dublin. At 0900 hrs a convoy of over one hundred and thirty motor vehicles departed the camp. The remaining garrison troops, consisting of troops from the Leicester and Northampton Regiments, proceeded to the railway siding at the Curragh Racecourse and made their way to Dublin by special trains. At precisely 1000 hrs the Irish troops marched out of Hare Park Camp under the command of Lt Gen O'Connell amid a torrent of rain. On reaching Staff House on the western edge of the camp, they were met by a group of British officers headed by Lt Col Sir Francis Dalrymple and Lt Col Stockwell. Having exchanged greetings, the senior officers "walked and talked" their way to Beresford Barracks, now Ceannt Barracks, where the official handover took place. Meanwhile, at the various guardrooms and magazines across the camp, Irish troops took over regimental duties from the departing British troops who mounted up onto waiting trucks and followed the convoy to Dublin. Comdt Barra O'Briain, marching from Newbridge Railway Station with additional troops for the Curragh Camp observed a party of senior British officers in the vicinity of Ballymany looking back through field glasses at the Curragh Camp and the Water Tower. He believed the former GOC of the Curragh was in this group. At 1130 hrs the handover party made their way along the top road to the Water Tower where a British staff car was waiting for Lt. Cols. Dalyrmple and Stockwell. With the formalities of the handover completed, the two British officers departed, ending over 70 years of permanent British presence on the Camp. At 1200 hrs Lt Gen O'Connell climbed the Water Tower to hoist the tricolour. A replacement flagpole had been sourced by the Board of Works. Lt Gen O'Connell raised the tricolour on top of the Water Tower in the presence of Mr. Desmond Fitzgerald T.D., a member of cabinet representing Dáil Éireann, and a group of National Army officers who rendered a salute. Without any honour guards, bands, or fanfare, the handover of the Curragh Camp had taken place. The military camp designed for ten thousand was now in possession of about five hundred Irish troops. Lt Gen O'Connell raised the tricolour on top of the Water Tower in the presence of Mr. Desmond Fitzgerald T.D. The transfer of authority began on 16th January 1922 with the handover of Dublin Castle to Michael Collins Irish troops took over regimental duties from the departing British troops who mounted up onto waiting trucks and followed the convoy to Dublin Comdt Barra O'Briain, marching from Newbridge Railway Station with addition troops for the Curragh Camp View of Curragh Camp looking South East from Tower HISTORY OF CURRAGH CAMP

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