County Limerick: Sarsfield Barracks

Sarsfield Barracks in Limerick dates back as far as 1795. Previously known as New Barracks, it was handed over to the Free State on 20th March 1922, with the evacuation of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers who had been based there. The barracks was not initially garrisoned by Irish forces however, with the only official handover in the county taking place at Castle Barracks, where General Michael Brennan took over command.

After the British evacuated the barracks it was looted by locals and then occupied by anti-Treaty IRA. When the National Army threatened to take the barracks by force, the IRA surrendered the position but set fire to it as they departed on 21st July 1922. In 1926, it was renamed in honour of Patrick Sarsfield, who had fought on side of James II against William of Orange and helped negotiate the Treaty of Limerick, ending the Williamite War in 1691.

Sarsfield Barracks is now the headquarters of the 12th Infantry Battalion.