| Rockhill Barracks | |
|---|---|
Beairic Chnoc na Carraige | |
| Letterkenny | |
 Rockhill Barracks | |
  Rockhill Barracks Location within Ireland | |
| Coordinates | 54°56′01″N7°46′30″W / 54.93374°N 7.77513°W |
| Type | Barracks |
| Site information | |
| Operator |  Irish Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 17th century |
| In use | 1969-2008 |
Rockhill Barracks (Irish : Beairic Chnoc na Carraige) was an Irish Army barracks located in Letterkenny, County Donegal. The barracks was closed, in early 2009, as a result of the 2008 economic recession.
Rockhill House is a 30-room period building originally built as a manor house in the 17th century for the gentry. Captain Thomas Chambers is the earliest recorded occupier of the house in 1660. The present structure dates from 1824 and is a listed building. Rockhill House was occupied by The Irregulars during the Irish Civil War. They were removed from the building by a pro-treaty crowd who were led by Letterkenny native James McMonagle. Rockhill House which houses the barracks was later privately owned by Sir Charles John Stewart. His two sons were killed during World War I. He sold the building in October 1936, through selling agent John King Robinson, due to the fear of attacks from the Irish Republican Army. [1]
During years of vacancy the building was used as a Preparatory Irish College. The premises was used by The 24th Battalion from 1969 to 1973. Rockhill also hosted military combatants before members of the "B" company of the 28th Infantry settled there in 1973. The barracks opened in 1969 and covers 29 acres (120,000 m2) of land. The then Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, deployed Irish troops to the border during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. [2]
There is evidence that golf was played at Rockhill before the 20th century, long before Letterkenny Golf Club was established in 1913. A steward wrote to his master stating that golf was being played on the land of Major General ACH Stewart. In a letter he stated "Mr Chambers, Manager of the Ulster Bank, Dr Carre and a few others been playing golf on the lawn starting at McDaid's old lodge and going across into the Fort Field". [3]
“I think it is a huge mistake to leave the north of the county without an army presence. The county would be cut off if it was blown up. What do people do in north Donegal now if there is a flooding crisis or other disaster?"
Dessie Larkin's view on the closure of the barracks. [4]
Due to the 2008 Budget cutbacks on military spending the barracks was forced to close. [5] 135 personnel moved to Finner Camp in Ballyshannon on 31 January 2009. [6] [7] Willie O'Dea, Minister for Defence, who defended the closure, said "There were too many army barracks for an army and a country of Ireland's size". [8] Local people protested and stated that "the Government was walking on the people and the proposals would mean the loss of €6.5 million to the local economy". [9] Dessie Larkin, a local councillor, said "I think it is a huge mistake to leave the north of the county without an army presence. The county would be cut off if it was blown up. What do people do in north Donegal now if there is a flooding crisis or other disaster?" [10] He recalled how his father James (Big Jim) Larkin was presented with a membership card for the officer's mass. The Sunday mass was only part of what the barracks meant to the community. "For people living in Bomany, Oldtown and New Mills it was a God send", he said. [4]
A protest march was held in Letterkenny on Saturday 15 November 2008 in objection to the barracks closure. It began at the Bus Éireann depot at 1.30pm and came to a climax at the Market Square. The protest was organised by the Donegal Steering Group Against Barrack Closures who include former Rockhill service personnel. [11] Fine Gael politician Dinny McGinley was forced to leave the Dáil after he caused a row with Willie O'Dea. When O'Dea failed to answer McGinley's request for him to visit Donegal, the Donegal TD demanded that he prove whether he is "a man or a mouse". Leas Ceann Comhairle, Brendan Howlin asked McGinley to leave when he repeatedly shouted at O'Dea. [12]
An open day was held at the barracks on 14 January 2009 and a final mass was celebrated by army chaplain, Fr. Alan Ward, on 18 January 2009. [13] On Wednesday, 28 January, soldiers marched down the Barracks Avenue for the last time before proceeding to march from the courthouse to the library on the town's main street. [14]
While there have been no definitive plans made for Rockhill Estate, suggested proposals have included the following:
On 25 July 2014, it was announced that Rockhill House would be sold at public auction during August 2014. [18] It was acquired by a local businessman, John Moloy, for €670,000. [19]
Lt.-Col. Declan O'Carroll, commanding officer at the barracks from 1981 to 1983, 1984 to 1986 and 1992 to 1993, published his 62-page book "Rockhill House – A History" in 1984. It was published by Defences Forces Printing Press and it was revised in 1994. [20]
Letterkenny, nicknamed the Cathedral Town, is a large town in County Donegal, Ireland, on the River Swilly in the north-west of Ulster. Along with the nearby city of Derry, Letterkenny is a regional economic gateway for the north-west of Ireland.
St Eunan's College, known locally as The College to distinguish it from the cathedral and GAA club, is a voluntary Roman Catholic all-male, English-medium secondary day school in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located upon Sentry Hill in Letterkenny. Named after Adomnán or Eunan, the school's foundation stone was laid on the patron saint's feast day of 23 September.
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Dunfanaghy is a small town, former fishing port, and commercial centre on the north coast of County Donegal, Ireland. It lies on Donegal's North West coast, specifically the west side of Sheephaven Bay, on the N56 road, 30 km north-west of Letterkenny.
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Denis McGinley is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Minister of State from 2011 to 2014. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Donegal South-West constituency from 1982 to 2016.
Letterkenny University Hospital is a general hospital at Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. One of Ireland's busiest, the campus is divided by a main road heading on towards the North/West of Donegal on the N56 road (Ireland). A teaching hospital, it maintains links with the University of Galway, ATU Letterkenny and the Royal College of Surgeons.
As with other towns and cities in Ireland, Letterkenny has a history of great architecture. Many examples of ancient architecture remain in the town to the present day – though much has been lost also, through decay and modern development.
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Joseph Patrick McGinley (1894–1974) was an Irish Sinn Féin, and later Fine Gael, politician, general practitioner and surgeon.
Dessie Larkin was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a member of Donegal County Council representing the Letterkenny electoral area from 1999 to 2014. He served as the County Council's chair of the Planning & Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee. He was the highest paid councillor in Ulster.
Oldtown is a district of Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland, in the parish of Conwal and Leck to the south of the River Swilly. As its name suggests, it is the oldest part of Letterkenny—being older than Letterkenny itself—and was the starting point of the area's development.
Main Street is an important thoroughfare in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. Sometimes claimed to be the longest street in Ireland, it is divided into two sections, with Lower Main Street running from the junction at Oldtown Road to the Market Square and Upper Main Street running from the Market Square to the junction at Crossview House. Traffic flows in a one-way system from Crossview House southwards.
The 2009 Irish budget was delivered on 14 October 2008, as the first budget in the tenure of Fianna Fáil's Brian Lenihan as Minister for Finance and the first of Taoiseach Brian Cowen's tenure. It was brought forward from its usual December date due to the global financial crisis. The budget, labelled "the toughest in many years", included a number of controversial measures such as a proposed income levy and the withdrawal of previously promised HPV vaccines for schoolgirls. Other results of the budget included a new income levy being imposed on all workers above a specified threshold and the closure of a number of Irish Army barracks near the border with Northern Ireland.
James Larkin was an Irish Gaelic footballer and politician. He won five Donegal Senior Football Championship medals with the St Eunan's club. He was nominated by the Taoiseach Charles Haughey to Seanad Éireann in 1982, he served until 1983. He was elected a member of the Letterkenny Urban District Council in 1967 and was chairman of the council on five occasions. Larkin was founder member of Independent Fianna Fáil. He was the director of elections for Independent Fianna Fáil leader Neil Blaney. His son Dessie Larkin was a Fianna Fáil member of Donegal County Council from 1999 until 2014.
Michael Boyle is an Irish sportsperson and Gaelic football coach. He plays with his local club Termon and also, formerly, for the Donegal county team.
Donal Reid is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played for Bundoran, Red Hughs and the Donegal county team. He played more than 100 times competitively for Donegal, appearing at all age levels and positions from midfield to forward to defence.
The County House is a municipal building in Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland.
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