|
Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP TM) Images of Carlow Military |
|
 Plate 42: - Women played an important role during the War of Independence
and the Civil War. Lena Whelan of the Dublin Road is pictured here in her
Cumann na mBan (Women’s Army) uniform. The bandolier belonged to Tom Seely
of Tullow Street, who was active in the I.R.A. movement. In 1997 Carlow
County Heritage Society returned the bandolier to Tom’s grandson Fintan
Seely, who is a well-known New York publican. It is now on display in his
pub in Manhattan. My (Michael Purcell's) own mother was in
Cumann na mBan and in 1923 she was interned in Kilmainham Jail. In 1927
Lena Whelan married Dick Clifford, an ex-British Army soldier. This
postcard came to me (Michael Purcell)
courtesy of Lena’s
niece Catherine Smith of Smith’s Newsagency. |
|
 On
Parade in Carlow Military Barracks.John Murphy County Carlow Military Museum (CCMM) Here is a very rare photo of a unit based in the Barracks c.1917-1922? Some of the formation are wearing side caps (Implying a different unit?) The BOS was told to fall in the guard. Clearly visible is the Carlow skyline. If anyone knows the exact year of the photo and the unit(s) Please contact John Murphy on Facebook or myself. |
|
 Plate 43: - With the country still in a state of unrest, soldiers of the
newly-established Free State Army parade in the Haymarket in 1923. From
here they marched to the Old Union Workhouse on the Kilkenny Road which
had been converted to a barracks. In the background the gates lead to the
Butter-market and Carlow Fire Station at the rear of the Town Hall. |
|
 Plate 44: - The rear of the old Union Workhouse following its conversion
into an army barracks. It was found to be unsuitable and within a short
time was handed over to Carlow County Council for use as offices and
stores. It was demolished in 1971. Carlow's Regional College, Institute of
Technology, now stands on the site. |
|
 45
Sunday after last Mass, with the Cathedral in the background. Carlovians
drill and parade in the barrack yard. Ireland remained neutral during the
Second World War and despite the fact that there were not enough weapons
to arm the National Army, local citizens joined the L.D.F. (Local Defence
Force), and prepared to repel ‘invasion from any quarter’. |
|
 Plate 55: - In 1923 soldiers of the newly-established Free State
Army marched across Burrin Bridge to take possession of the Old Union
Workhouse on the Kilkenny Road. The move had aroused controversy, the old
and infirm had to he moved to the former British military barracks in
Barrack Street. The Free State commanding officer had stated that if the
Union was still occupied he would remove all occupants, inmates and staff.
Vacant possession was granted. The iron bridge was erected in 1863. It was
replaced by a concrete bridge in 1932. The house in the background is the
home of Dr. O'Meara. father of Carlow's most noted artist Frank O'Meara.
The building with the pillars at the entrance is Deighton Hall. formerly
the courthouse; it was donated by Joseph Deighton to St. Mary’s Church
vestry. To the right we see a garage sign on the building which replaced
Kellys Mill; this garage was later demolished to make way for a new road.
Kennedy Avenue. |
|
 Plate 67: - The old jail in Carlow which was situated at the top of
Bridewell Lane. Many of the 1798 rebels were interned here. We are told
that many of the prisoners could look out through the top windows and see
their fellow rebels being tortured and put to death in the barrack yard in
Barrack Street. Soon after this photo was taken a major refurbishment of
the building was undertaken by R.N. Gillespie Ltd. In the 1990s the
building was demolished and is now replaced by modern shops and
apartments. |
|
 Plate 68: - The south wing of the old barracks in Barrack Street. The
infamous 1798 Court Martial trials took place in this section of the
barrack building, prisoners were executed in the front yard. In 1922,
following the withdrawal of the British Army, the newly established Irish
Free State Army took over the building. Later it was discovered that the
building was too small to accommodate the 500 soldiers stationed in
Carlow. In February 1923, the army decided to moved to the Old Union
Workhouse on the Kilkenny Road, which is on the south side of the town,
and the inmates of the workhouse were moved in Crossley Tenders to the barracks. The barracks was renamed the Sacred Heart Home but
later became known as the County Home and was administered as a Home for
the Elderly by the Mercy nuns. The building is now demolished and
a Retired Persons home has been built on the site now. |
|
|
|
 Plate 69: - With a Lancia Armoured Lorry known as ‘Handy Andy’ in the
background, soldiers of the Irish Free State Army pose for this photo. A
few civilians also managed to get into the picture, including one in the
driver’s seat. Capt. Doyle is marked X, a note on the back of the picture
states: Capt. Doyle - later murdered at Enniscorthy when
leaving evening devotions at the Cathedral and unarmed.
There is no date on the photo for the killing but I
presume he was killed during the Civil War. |
|
 Plate 70: - 70 Platoon under Lieut. McDarby about to leave the old
barracks in Carlow for ‘Column Duty’, in the area. The buildings in the
background were demolished in 1973. Today a home for the elderly, Bethany
House, stands on the site. It was opened in February 1974 by the Minister
for Health, Brendan Corish, and was the first building erected in the move
to replace the Sacred Heart Home. In the distance we can see Thompson’s
Hanover Works and the spire of St. Mary’s Church. |
|
 Plate 71: - This picture is captioned ‘Autumn 1922’. CO.’s Crossley
Touring Car on the Barrack Square in the Old Military Barracks Carlow.
Staff Capt. John A. O’Farrell in the back seat is marked x; he was
accidentally shot dead in the same square on Christmas Eve, Sunday, 24th
December 1922. John was having a friendly sparring match with Lt. McDarby
when his Webley revolver fell from its holster and went off delivering the
fatal shot which killed him instantly.
|
|
 Plate 72: - On the move: Crossley Tender from Clonskeagh with a party of
soldiers armed with Winchester Repeaters prepare to move into the new
barracks. The local population protested against the move to take over the
Workhouse. A letter from Padraig Mac Gamhna T.D. to General Mulcahy in
1922 summed up the feelings of many:
The Guardians of
Carlow Union have brought to my notice that the Free State Military
Authorities have given them notice that Carlow Workhouse is being taken
over by the military authorities in December. As a former member of that
body, and as one of the representatives of the county, I wish to protest
strongly against such un-warranted action being taken, and that without
any regard whatever as to the care of the sick, poor and infirm. |
|
 Ballinree Royal Irish
Constabulary Barracks, County Carlow.Detached two-storey gable-fronted Tudor Revival former police barracks, c.1845, with turret on a circular plan on a square base. Renovated, c.1990, to accommodate residential use. Source: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage |
|
 Plate 73: - The former workhouse and new military barracks at Carlow. A
soldier passes by the chapel, in the background we see one of the towers
which were a feature of the Old Union / Workhouse building. Originally
built to accommodate eight hundred paupers the Workhouse, or ‘the spike’
as it was sometimes called, was a dreaded institution. In July 1853 boys
aged between 10 and 14 years were given tobacco and whiskey to ‘encourage’
them to clean out the workhouse cesspits. In the autumn of 1971 the
building was demolished. Today the Carlow Institute of Technology building
is erected in the area pictured here. It is considered to be one of the
leading centres for third-level education in Ireland. Under the guidance
of Institute Director John Gallagher and Chairman Edmund Burke it is
intended to further expand the educational services available. |
|
|
|
 The Barrack Yard showing the Court
Martial room people were condemned to
death during the Troubles |
 Plate 75: - Ballykinlar number 1 Internment Camp. Hut 22, B. Company
During the War of Independence members of the Irish Republican Army were
rounded up and imprisoned in internment camps. During their internment one
of the Carlow prisoners Patrick 0’ Toole died, he was 29 years old. In
1920 due to ill health he resigned as secretary of the Carlow Transport
Union. Nevertheless he was arrested by the British and interned in
Ballykinlar.
Pictured here are back row, left to right: James Byrne, who later lived in St. Killian’s Crescent; David Murphy Leighlin, Pa. McDermott, publican, Shamrock Square; J. Traynor, Dublin; T. Murphy, Cork; and J. Donnelly, Rathvilly. Second row: D. Quirke, Tipperary; PJ. Gallagher, Tipperary; F. Doran, Kildare; E. McDonnell, Cavan; E. Morrissey, Dublin; T. Coleman, Tipperary; and C. Quirke, Tipperary. Third row: J. Smith, Bagenalstown; P J. Byrne, Dublin; M. Barnett, Dublin; G. Malone, Dublin; P Coyne, Liverpool; J. Curran, Dublin; and P Garland Dublin. Fourth row: J. Hayes, Cork; P. Kavanagh, Dublin; R. Ward, Dublin; J. Maher and M. Quirke, Tipperary. |
|
|
|
