Athlone barracks chief 'would welcome' Army HQ designation

The potential designation of Athlone as a new headquarters for the Irish Army would be a positive and welcome development for the area, according to the officer commanding Custume Barracks.

Lt Col Mark Lennon, who heads up the 6th Infantry Battalion at the local barracks, told the Westmeath Independent he had been given no indication at this stage as to whether the Government was planning to establish an Army headquarters in the town.

"There have been many rumours that the Army headquarters will be coming to Athlone. We have no indication of that," said Lt Col Mark Lennon.

"It is at Government level, and it's a strategic decision that will be made in the future. But obviously we would be more than happy to have a prime headquarters like that coming to this barracks.

"It would really increase and help with recruitment and retention, which is our biggest challenge at the moment, and is something that, in my tenure, I will be working on.

"For me personally, and anyone here in the barracks, we would be delighted if (Athlone became the Army headquarters), but there are a lot of decisions still to be made."

Just under two years ago, the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, recommended the creation of an Army headquarters in a "central location" geographically.

Lt Col Lennon, a Ballymahon native, was appointed as the top officer in Custume Barracks last autumn. While reiterating that recruitment and retention was "the main issue" for the Army locally, he spoke highly of the members of the force currently working in Athlone.

"The calibre of the personnel we have here in Custume Barracks is fantastic, and we have people coming here from the greater Midlands area - not just Athlone town but Longford, Westmeath, Roscommon, Laois, Kildare and even further afield."

Lt Col Lennon was speaking shortly before Christmas, at a presentation in the barracks of €1,200 raised for the Defence Forces Benevolent Fund at the Rotary Club of Athlone's Gala Concert held in the Radisson Hotel in November.

"We have some very good veterans' associations, ONE (Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel) and IUNVA (Irish United Nations Veterans Association), and we have very strong and proud links to them," said Lt Col Lennon.

"The money raised by the Rotary Club is fantastic, we're delighted to accept it, and it will go to good use with the Defence Forces Benevolent Fund."