The Mahon Road Barracks was a military installation in Portadown, Northern Ireland.
| Mahon Road Barracks | |
|---|---|
| Portadown, Northern Ireland | |
 March past at Mahon Road Barracks | |
  Mahon Road Barracks Location within Northern Ireland | |
| Coordinates | 54°24′22″N 6°27′16″W / 54.40603°N 6.45441°W |
| Type | Barracks |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator |  British Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1972 |
| In use | 1972-2007 |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | 11th Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment |
History
editThe barracks were built on the Mahon Road in Portadown in 1972 to accommodate the 11th Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment and were originally dubbed "Fort Mahon".[1] In February 1974 the barracks also became the Headquarters for 3rd Infantry Brigade where the brigade's units included, along with Brigade Staff, 174 (Provost) Company, Royal Military Police.[2]
The barracks were also the home of G Squadron, 22nd SAS Regiment and were the centre of many of their operations in Northern Ireland including the interception of eight members of a Provisional Irish Republican Army team at Loughgall RUC Barracks in 1987;[3] G Squadron operated under the working name of 4 Field Survey Troop, Royal Engineers.[4]
3rd brigade was moved to Drumadd Barracks in Armagh in 1988 during a restructuring of land forces in Northern Ireland.[5] In July 2000 the barracks were used by the security forces during the Drumcree conflict.[6]
The barracks were closed in January 2007.[7] The adjacent site to the South has since been marketed as a private housing development under the name "Maghon Park".[8]
References
edit- ^ "Barracks: The History Behind Those Names (Part 4)". Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ "174 (Provost) Company, RMP" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 September 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ "Ten cases of special forces in action". BBC News. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ Dillion, p. 164
- ^ Potter, p. 309
- ^ "Drumcree Footage". Imperial War Museum. July 2000. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ "Jobs go as NI Army bases to close". BBC. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ "Clendinning at Maghon Park" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
Sources
edit- Dillon, Martin (1991). The Dirty War. Arrow. ISBN 978-0099845201.
- Potter, John (2001). Testimony to Courage: The History of the Ulster Defence Regiment 1969-1992. Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 978-0850528190.