McCan Barracks

McCan Barracks is the site of two agents of the Irish state: the Garda Síochána College and the defence forces. It is located in Templemore, North Tipperary, Ireland. It is named after Pierce McCan who fought in the Irish War of Independence.

It took on the role as the national centre for training An Garda Síochána - Ireland's police force - in 1964 when Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park ceased to perform that role. The barracks is home to a unit of the Irish Army Reserve and also houses a small detachment of the regular defence forces (Irish Army).

History

Prior to the achievement of independence, it was known as Richmond Barracks, after the area of the town in which it is located. The land for Richmond Barracks was donated to the British crown by the local landlord - Sir John Craven Carden, 1st baronet Templemore. The situation of the barracks was on the regular grid pattern for which the town of Templemore is noted and for which Sir John Craven Carden was also responsible. It occupies the most elevated ground in the town and is less than 50 meters from the main gate lodge of the Priory - the main residence of the baronet. A broad boulevard (Church Avenue) extends from the entrance gates over the River Mall at "Small Bridge" to the crossroads at Bank Street(called Military Street pre-independence). From the crossroads, the left hand road proceeds directly to the Town Hall while straight ahead, the Avenue leads to the Church of the Sacred Heart (Roman Catholic). The right hand road terminates at Templemore railway station which opened on 3 July 1848.^[1] This configuration greatly facilitated the rapid movement of crown forces throughout the province of Munster. At the opposite corner of the barracks, the main roads to Thurles and Borrisoleigh commence (and were overlooked by watch towers).

See also

Carden Baronets

References

1. ^ "Templemore station". Railscot - Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf. Retrieved 2007-09-07.