Sarsfield Barracks, Military barracks in Limerick, Ireland
Sarsfield Barracks is an active military base in Limerick, Ireland, home to the 12th Infantry Battalion and the Irish Naval Service Reserve. The site covers a large area close to the city center and holds several buildings from different periods.
The site was built in 1795 under the name New Barracks on leased land and has been in continuous military use since then. It was renamed in 1926, after Irish independence, to reflect the country's break from British rule.
The name honors Patrick Sarsfield, an Irish military leader from the 17th century who became a symbol of resistance for many Irish people. Anyone passing by the gates today sees an active base that still functions as home to an infantry battalion.
As this is an active military base, public access is very limited and anyone wishing to visit should get in touch beforehand. The site sits close to central Limerick and is easy to locate on foot or by car.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, part of the site was converted into a temporary mortuary, making it the second such emergency facility of its kind opened in Ireland at that time. This shows how a working military base can take on a very different role when a national crisis demands it.
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