Curragh Camp - Events and Routines at The Curragh

Events and Routines At The Curragh

In 1879 the first of the "modern" barracks (Beresford Barracks) was built at the camp, and six new barracks were subsequently constructed through the start of the 20th century. The names of the barracks that were built by the British Army were Ponsonby Bks, Stewart Bks, A.S.C Bks, Engineer Bks, Gough Bks and Keane Bks.

In the following decade Queen Victoria visited to inspect troops, and as her son (Edward VII the then Prince of Wales) was serving at the camp. A great troop review was held for the visit of the Queen and an album of the occasion can be found in the Royal Archive at Windsor.

By 1893 the General Officer Commanding (GOC) was Major-General Lord Ralph D. Kerr CB. The garrison was the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment (the 18th Foot), the 1st Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers (the 20th Foot), and the 2nd Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment (the 31st Foot). In 1894 the Worcestershires were replaced by the 2nd Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment (the 67th Foot).

The Curragh was a little isolated, which led to stringent regulations about taxi fares. However, the camp was well provided for, with recreational facilities (including, for the officers, hunting with the local gentry), several posts a day (last collection for England at 11 pm), and a daily Mass for Catholics at the East Church. A gun was fired every day at reveille, at 1 pm and at 9.30 pm.

By the end of the 19th century the Camp became a divisional headquarters and soldiers were trained there for fighting in the Boer War.