Enjoy a walking tour of James Stephens Barracks in Kilkenny led by Larry Scallan

This weekend as part of Yulefest, there is a walking tour of James Stephens Barracks led by Larry Scallan which will include a visit to the Barracks Museum, the old detention Barracks, and the Officer’s Mess where there will be a viewing of Christmas 1914, which was recorded in the Barracks in 2018.

The James Stephens Barracks were built by James Switzer on land provided by the Earl of Ormond as part of the response to the Irish Rebellion and completed between 1800 and 1803. The site was provided by William Butler, 6th Earl of Ormond on the North East of the city. Construction was to a standard plan similar to barracks being built in Templemore and Mullingar at the time. On completion, sufficient material remained to construct “an asylum to cater for the needs of twenty women”,  which is the present day Switser's Home in Kilkenny.

A garrison church was added in 1852. Married quarters were provided to the east of the barracks in the 1850s, continuing in their original use until 1995 when they were handed over to Kilkenny Corporation for redevelopment as local authority housing.

Kilkenny's own 'Great Escape' of 1921 rival any film plot

The amazing War of Independence jaikbreak featured IRA men, a jail-breaking priest and Kilkenny hurling stars

Following the Anglo-Irish Treaty the barracks was handed over to the forces of the Irish Free State in 1922 and renamed after James Stephens, the Irish Republican leader, in 1969. The barracks was occupied by a number of different units between the end of the Civil War and the start of the Emergency (as the Second World War was known in Ireland). This period saw a considerable expansion of the number of personnel accommodated in both the barracks and other locations in the city. Following the end of the Emergency, the strength was again reduced to cadres for reserve elements.

In 1971 A Company, 3 Infantry Battalion was moved to the barracks from the Curragh and in 1977 this was incorporated into the newly formed 30 Infantry Battalion. This remained the main unit in the garrison until its disbandment in 1998. The barracks is now the home to the 3 Infantry Battalion.

Irish soldier killed in Lebanon named as 23-year-old Sean Rooney - Kilkenny Live

Private Sean Rooney, originally from Dundalk, is a former student of St Eunan's College in Letterkenny and was killed while on a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon

If you have always wondered about the role of Stephens Barracks in the life of Kilkenny then this event offers an opportunity to reconnect with the military heritage and history of Kilkenny through items and events connected with the Barracks.

Each tour is limited to 30 people and the proceeds will go to a local charity.

Please book your tickets in advance at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/yulefestkilkenny/805606

Entrance to the event is through the main gate of the barracks.