Palace_Barracks
Palace Barracks, Holywood is a military installation and the Northern Ireland headquarters of MI5, in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland.
| Palace Barracks | |
|---|---|
| Holywood | |
Palace Barracks | |
| Coordinates | 54°37′25″N 05°48′50″W |
| Type | Barracks |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator |  British Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1886 |
| In use | 1886 – present |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | 1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment Holywood Troop, 321 EOD & Search Squadron RLC |
Palace Barracks occupies the site of a palatial house known as "Ardtullagh", the home of the Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore until it was bought by the UK War Office in 1886.[1]
In 1933, five children of Lance Corporal Harry Poole and his wife, Mary, lost their lives from asphyxiation following gas poisoning in the married quarters of the barracks.[2]
During the roughly three decades of "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland, the barracks served as the home base for battalions rotating through the province, especially those on a two-year "accompanied" tour with their families. A wide variety of facilities are available for soldiers to use off duty, including a swimming pool, squash courts, saunas, bars and a gymnasium.[3]
Palace Barracks became the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Irish Regiment in 2008.[4]
In March 2010, it was the site of a bombing.[5] An elderly man was blown off his feet and had to be treated in hospital. The bomb was allegedly driven towards the base in a hijacked taxi.[6] The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the attack.[7]
In 2014, it became the base for the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland.[8]
In November 2021, 1 SCOTS was disbanded, and reformed to become 1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment.[9][10]
Current units stationed at the camp include:
British Army
- 1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment[11]
- Regimental Headquarters, 152 (North Irish) Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps[12]
- 227 (Belfast) Headquarters Squadron
- 220 (Belfast) Tanker Squadron
- 400 Petroleum Operator Squadron
- Regimental Headquarters, Royal Irish Regiment[13]
- Holywood Troop, 321 EOD & Search Squadron RLC
Royal Navy
- Belfast Detachment, Royal Marines Reserve[14]
The Security Service
- Northern Ireland Headquarters[15]
Palace Barracks is the declared headquarters of MI5 for their investigations into Northern Ireland-related terrorism.[16]
- "The History of the Culloden Estate and Spa" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
- "Palace Barracks Memorial Garden". Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
- "Royal Irish Regiment". Royal Irish Rangers. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- Real IRA Claims Barracks Car Bomb Blast Sky News, 12 April 2010.
- Sharrock, David (12 April 2010). "Car bomb explodes near MI5 base in Belfast". The Times. London, UK. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
- "Real IRA admits NI MI5 base bomb". BBC News. 12 April 2010. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
- "Families' anger as Royal Scots Borderers moved". The Scotsman. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- "The Royal Regiment of Scotland | National Army Museum". www.nam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- "Future Soldier Guide" (PDF). 25 November 2021. p. 70. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- "Belfast-based 1 Scots to lead Army's new Ranger Regiment". Belfast Telegraph. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- "152 (North Irish) Regiment RLC look back on 2016". Reserve Forces & Cadets Association Northern Ireland. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
- "Royal Irish Regiment". Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- "Find a Unit - RFCA NI". Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- "Palace Barracks explosion: Major review of security ordered at MI5 base in wake of bomb blast". Belfast Telegraph. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- "MI5 in Northern Ireland". The Security Service. Retrieved 27 April 2018.