Centenary of James Stephens Barracks handover to be marked in Kilkenny this weekend

This weekend, the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the Irish Defence Forces, based in James Stephens Barracks, will commemorate the centenary of the handover of the Barracks from British Forces to Irish Forces on February 7, 1922.

The commemoration will take place on Sunday February 6, 2022.

Members of the public are invited to attend an open day starting at 11.30am, which will include live music from St. Patrick’s Brass Band (whose members played for the handover ceremony a century ago), a weapons and vehicles display, military
heritage stalls and light refreshments.

The Cathaoirleach and Mayor of Kilkenny will also be present, in honour of Mayor Peter De Loughry, who delivered the oration a century ago.

The commemoration will see a company of soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Battalion, accompanied by the Band of No. 1 Brigade, marching from Kilkenny Castle at 12pm up John Street and into James Stephens Barracks.

The parade will be led by Officer Commanding 3 Inf. Bn., Lt Col Declan Crummey.

This will be followed by a wreath laying ceremony on the Main Square.

As this is a working military installation, guests are reminded that parking is not available within the barracks and
photo ID and sign in will be required on the main gate.

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HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

James Stephens Barracks, originally built in 1802 and handed over by British Forces to members of the Kilkenny IRA under
Brigadier George O’Dwyer on Feb 7, 1922, has been a feature of life in Kilkenny for over 220 years - home to generations of soldiers from Ireland’s South-East.

The barracks, now home to the 3rd Infantry Battalion, was renamed as James Stephens Barracks in the 1960s in memory of the Kilkenny born Fenian leader and founder of the IRB.

The 3rd Infantry Battalion is the oldest army unit of the Irish Defence Forces and traces its foundation back to January 1923, when the unit was located in County Donegal.

Soldiers from the unit have served on many UN-mandated missions overseas including Congo, Mali, Chad, Lebanon, Syria, Liberia and Kosovo to name a few.

The 3rd Infantry Battalion are also the lead unit deploying to the UNDOF mission in Syria in April 2022.

The military barracks and the 3rd Inf. Bn. have been at the heart of the community in Kilkenny for many years.

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