An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir May 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 8 | 8 | By Sgt RICCARDo LuCChESI D undalk town has a rich and long military history dating back to the ninth century. the Irish name for the town, Dun Dealgan, means Delagn's Fort and refers to the motte and baily castle which dominated the landscape for many centuries and the mound upon which it stood still remains to this day. The current military barracks stands on the site of a former linen mill, established in 1737. The buildings erected were referred to as Parliament Square. In 1798 the then disused mill buildings were used to quarter a local militia raised by Lord Roden and, fol- lowing the suppression of the Insurrection in that year, the British military maintained regular troops on the site. In 1825 the barracks was completely rebuilt to accommodate a cavalry regiment. Lord Cardigan and Baden-Powell served tours at the barracks, as vari- ous units of dragoons, lancers and hussars rotated in occupation over the next seventy years. In 1902 the barracks at Dundalk was again rebuilt, this time to accommodate an artillery regiment. In 1922 members of the 4 Northern Division, under the command of Frank Aiken, took over the barracks briefly before it came under the control of Gen D. Hogan and the Free State Army. The barracks was evacuated in 1928 and part of it sold on lease to Rawson's Footwear. In 1934 members of the newly formed Volunteer Force reoccupied the military part of the barracks and it became the home of the Regiment of Oriel. During the Emergen- cy years, the 3, 4 and 5 Cyclist Squadrons were formed and based at Dundalk Barracks. In post-Emergency times the Barracks was HQ for the local LDF /FCA Battalion -now designated as 8 Infantry Battalion (FCA). During the 1957 IRA Border Campaign, regular troops were again briefly stationed in Dundalk Barracks before it reverted to continuing use by the FCA Battalion and the local Civil Defence Organisation throughout the sixties. On the outbreak of civil disturbance in Northern Ireland in 1969, the barracks was re occupied by regular soldiers. Troops from vari- ous units in the PDF were attached to form Infantry Groups for service along the border, with the 1 Inf Gp stationed in Dundalk. In September 1973 the 27 Infantry Battalion was established, incorporating troops from the Infantry Group and recruiting locally and na- tionally. The HQ of 27 Infantry Battal- ion was established in Dundalk, where it continues to the present day. Throughout its various occupations the barracks had never been formally named. In 1986 the then Taoiseach, Dr. Garrett Fitzgerald TD, officiated at a special ceremony to dedicate the bar- racks to the memory of the freedom fighter and distinguished statesman, Mr. Frank Aiken. Thus, for the first time in almost 200 years of military use, the barracks acquired a distinct identity of its own. To illustrated and help explain this rich history Aiken Bks boasts a small but well appointed museum that has proven to be a popular attrac- tion amongst historians and military enthusiasts for a number of years with people travelling from all parts of Ireland as well as holidaymakers from abroad. The visitors book contains names from the United States & Canada, Australia & New Zealand and almost every country in Europe. The museum holds a number of personal weapons and documents pertaining to Frank Aiken who commanded the first Free State troops to garrison the barracks on the withdrawal of British forces in April 1922. A number of organised tours from Dundalk Historical Society and Historical Societies' from Northern Ireland have visited the museum on several occasions over the years as well as school groups from both sides of the border. The staff of Aiken Bks Museum have built and developed a close working relationship with Louth County Museum which has proved to be mutually beneficial regarding the sourcing, display- ing & maintaining of artefacts.

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