Centenary of Nenagh barracks takeover

Next Monday, February 14, marks the centenary of the State taking over Nenagh Military Barracks from the British.

Tipperary in the Decade of Revolution history group will commemorate the anniversary in conjunction with members of ONE on Sunday next, February 13. At 2pm a parade will leave Banba Square and retrace the route taken by members of the IRA from Laois and Tipperary, who took over the barracks on behalf of the State in 1922.

At the barracks there will be a ceremonial lowering of the British flag, and the national flag will be raised in its place. The flag ceremony will be performed by descendants of people who were involved in both the British and Irish sides on that historic day.

The taking over of the barracks and seeing the Tricolour raised on the building was the first tangible effect for the people of Nenagh of the Treaty that had ben signed in London the previous December. The parade will be led by Piper Gerard Neville of the Moycarkey Pipe Band and members of ONE from Tipperary, Limerick and Laois.

The event is non-party political and everyone is welcome to join in the parade or to attend the ceremony at the barracks in Summerhill. In particular, we would welcome family members of those who took part in the event 100 years ago. A commemorative booklet has been produced to mark the occasion and will be on sale on Sunday. Booklets from previous TiDR events have proven extremely popular and most are no longer available.