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CHRISTY ROCHE'S LECTURE

A visiting "officer" came to our base. He lectured us troops on the history of the army barracks in Fermoy. Here is a summary of his speech. We command you to read and enjoy this speech.

During the mid 1700s-early 1800s, which was the time of revolution in France, the whole idea of democracy changed. The English and the French were not getting on and after Wolfe Tones attempt to invade Ireland in 1796 the English were very much afraid of future invasions. Before this period all armies in Ireland were local. Each landlord had and took care of their own armies. But after they became aware of the dangers they were up against France they decided to take some precautions.

One precaution was to set up barracks in Cork region

But why did they choose Fermoy?

Well essentially they had chosen Kilworth. Kilworth was a much bigger town than Fermoy in that time but the local landlord at the time who went by the name of Mr Pyne was adament not to sell land to them. The landlord in Mallow was anxious to sell land to them but from a strategic point of view they found the Kilworth/Fermoy area perfect.

The road system was perfect in this area - much better than any other possible area.

John Anderson a Scots man landlord in Fermoy at this time set up business in Cork and bought land in Fermoy and that's how he became landlord in Fermoy. He was willing to sell land rent free to build their barracks which was located where the Gaelic Pitch is now. This Barrack could hold up to 5000 men.

The reason for this barracks summed up are:

1. The English were afraid of invasion.
2. Local unrest where the population of Ireland had grown from nearly 5 million in the mid 1700s to 8 million approx in the early 1800s.
3. There was a lot of land problems over landlords which caused havoc.

This continued until the battle of Trafalgar Napoleonic wars.

The barracks provided very good business for Fermoy. The people communicated very well with the army the economy was very good.

As you well know many Irish men joined the army.

In 1845/47 the vacated barracks was used as a poor house during the Famine. In the next few years the numbers in the army declined and in 1903 the Urban Council wrote to the General of Connacht for more Soldiers. By 1914 the numbers had risen again. In 1895 the firing range in Kilworth served all Munster. There are letters still surviving from that time from an English General by the name of John Henry Maxwell Stanford. He wrote home every week to his family in England with a detailed account of everything that happened during his life in the Army in Fermoy.

In one letter he wrote 'the town 5 miles west of Fermoy was Ballyhooley'- so Ballyhooley was mentioned before Fermoy. His letters were found in the late 70's, early 80's and are now on display in the Imperial War Museum in London. Kilworth Camp had a retirement home where people who worked in the army stayed after the army life. But there was also a recuperation house for the soldiers who wern't too badly injured.They didn't bring very badly injured soldiers back because they might scare off any prospective soldiers thinking of joining the Connacht Rangers army.

The army got on very well with the residents in Fermoy. Business boomed and the economy was very good as a result of the army. Many shops in the town supplied the army with goods.

On the 26th of November 1920 two people had their lives taken in an ambush which took place in Labbacally. After this the Black 'n' Tans came. These men were dangerous criminals who joined the army. They were dangerous and often murderers they caused havoc and many houses were burnt down.

In 1922 the army left Fermoy (the English) and it was taken over by the IRA, Kilworth was also taken over. In 1923 the barracks were burnt down and completely destroyed when a civil war broke out. In 1875 a gym and library were in Carrignagrohera. But they are being abolished and Flats are now being built.

Up to 1998 the army were still in Fermoy. But at that time they were scattered to Kilworth and Cork to different Army Camps.

There are many military graveyards around the Munster region one is in Carrignagrohera. There is also Famine graves there.

By 1861 Fermoy was one of the biggest towns in Munster.

All street names were changed in 1916