Columb Barracks


Columb Barracks was a military installation at Mullingar in Ireland.

History

The barracks, which were originally known as Wellington Barracks after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, were built as part of the response to the Irish Rebellion and completed between 1814 and 1819. The barracks were taken over by forces of the Irish Free State in 1922 and renamed Columb Barracks in Honour of Adjutant Patrick Columb, a member of the Irish Free State Army who had been killed in Mullingar by Anti-Treaty Forces in April 1922. Volunteer Joe Leavy, a native of Milltownpass and a member of the Anti-treaty Forces, was also killed. They became home to 4th Field Artillery Regiment and 54th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment. Notwithstanding strong objections from Willie Penrose, who resigned as Minister of State over the issue, and strong local protests, the barracks closed in March 2012.