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 Location within Northern Ireland | |
Coordinates | 54°37′25″N 05°48′50″W / 54.62361°N 5.81389°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:
Palace Barracks is the declared headquarters of MI5 for their investigations into Northern Ireland-related terrorism.[16]