Palace Barracks


Palace Barracks, Holywood is a military installation and the Northern Ireland headquarters of MI5, in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland.

History

Palace Barracks occupies the site of a palatial house known as "Ardtullagh", the home of the Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore until it was bought by the UK War Office in 1886.
In 1933, five children of Lance Corporal Harry Poole and his wife, Mary, lost their lives from asphyxiation following gas poisoning in the married quarters of the barracks.
During the roughly three decades of "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland, the barracks served as the home base for battalions rotating through the province, especially those on a two-year "accompanied" tour with their families. A wide variety of facilities are available for soldiers to use off duty, including a swimming pool, squash courts, saunas, bars and a gymnasium.
Palace Barracks became the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Irish Regiment in 2008.
In March 2010, it was the site of a bombing. An elderly man was blown off his feet and had to be treated in hospital. The bomb was allegedly driven towards the base in a hijacked taxi. The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the attack.
In 2014, it became the base for the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
In November 2021, 1 SCOTS was disbanded, and reformed to become 1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment.

Current units

Current units stationed at the camp include:

British Army

Palace Barracks is the declared headquarters of MI5 for their investigations into Northern Ireland-related terrorism.