Pomp and pageantry marks centenary of handover of Custume Barracks from British Army

The backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine added an extra poignancy to an emotional ceremony in Athlone on Monday morning to commemorate the centenary of the handover of Athlone’s Custume Barracks from the British Army following the War of Independence.

Although no reference was made to the war in Ukraine, there was an added sense of pride in the members of the Irish Defence Forces, and the peacekeeping duties they engage in, as they marched in perfect unison from Burgess Park to Athlone Castle just before 11am for a special ceremony to commemorate what was one of the most significant events of 1922.

The military parade, which included over 300 members of the Defence Forces stationed in Custume Barracks, was led by the Band 2 Brigade which has been based in the Athlone Barracks since its formation in 1936.

The Band 2 Brigade were joined by members of the 6th infantry Battalion, led by Lieutenant Col Oliver Clear, who acted as Master of Ceremonies for the occasion, along with serving members of the 2 Brigade Artillery Regiment and the 2 Brigade Engineer Company.

The ceremony was held to commemorate the events of February 28, 1922 when the then-Victoria Barracks in Athlone was formally handed over to the Irish Free State by the British Army. The Barracks housed a substantial British garrison at the time under the command of Colonel Hare from the British Army.

Contemporary reports of the events of that historic day in 1922 record that, at approximately 11am, Commdt General Sean MacEoin, who was known as ‘The Blacksmith of Ballinalee” and was one of the heroes of the War of Independence, entered Victoria Barracks accompanied by Col Commdts Cooney and Lawlor, where they were received by Col Hare of the British Army.

The subsequent withdrawal of the British Army from Athlone was witnessed by over 20,000 people who came from all parts of the country and crowded the streets of Athlone to witness the end of British occupation of the Barracks and the Castle.

Following the handover, Victoria Barracks was renamed as Custume Barracks in memory of Sergeant Custume, the Jacobite soldier who gave his life defending the town bridge from the Williamite army during the Siege of Athlone in 1691.

In a highly symbolic gesture, the military parade stopped on the town bridge while the Irish flag was raised to full mast over Athlone Castle, while the Band 2 Brigade gave a poignant rendition of ‘The Last Post and Revielle’ and also played the Irish national anthem, Amhran na Bhfiann.