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18th May 1922 saw the final departure
of British Troops from Collins Barracks,
Cork, and the takeover of the keys by
National Army Captain Hugo McNeill. In
the intervening 100 years, Collins Barracks,
Cork has been the home of many units who
have served Ireland since the foundation
of the state and has been a permanent
feature in the daily life of Cork City, from
the post-Civil War Reconstruction period,
to the Emergency, to preparing Irish
Troops for UN service, to the emerging
internal security issues in the 1960/ 70s.
Therefore, as part of the National "Decade
of Commemoration", it was only right to hold
a ceremony to commemorate 100 years of
unbroken service to the state, and all those
who contributed towards it while serving in
Collins Barracks, Cork.
Units based in the barracks began rehearsing
for their roles in the weeks leading up to the
day, with senior NCOs ensuring the highest
standards of dress, drill, and deportment
HANDOVER CEREMONY
OF COLLINS BARRACKS
By Capt Oisín O'Higgins
Photos By Airman Sam Gibney
were observed by all. Gnr Collins, Barrack
Tailor Collins Barracks, spent long hours
ensuring that the SD 1 uniforms of all troops
involved were in the best condition possible
ahead of this once in a generation event.
On the morning of 18th May 22, troops
formed up at the bottom of Military Hill at
Belleview Park, ready to recreate the final
element of the original march from the
Ambassador Hotel up Military Hill through
the Old Front Gate. Led by the 1 Bde Band,
under the baton of Capt Fergal Carroll,
the parade was commanded by parade
commander Lt Col AP Keohane up the hill
and through the gates, with a marching body
of close to 300 personnel including serving
and former serving soldiers following behind.
As on the May evening 100 years previously,
the people of Cork City had lined the paths
on the hill in their thousands to clap and
cheer for the troops marching through the
gate.
1 Bde Band marching through Collins Bks
HANDOVER CEREMONY OF COLLINS BARRACKS
