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URBAN DISTRICT OF FERMOY

The UDC of Fermoy wrote to the British army in 1903 asking them to send more troops. The army had increased the wealth of the town, so the UDC wanted this to continue.

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NEW ARTILLERY BARRACK

I am directed by the committee representing the inhabitants and Urban Council to enclose for the favour of your kind consideration a copy of a Memorial presented to His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Ireland,on 28th may,1900,and also a copy the Cork Constitution of 6th instant.

The meeting at which the Memorial was adopted was a most representative one as will be seen from the social and official position of the signatories.

It will be observed that the idea of erecting the proposed Barracks on the local Drill Field was a very active project over three years ago; and the public interest in it, and the desire to give effect to the Petition of the memorial, has not lessened in the slightest degree since.

The committee have directed me to state that after consultation with the Urban Council they are prepared to guarantee that in the event of the Barracks being erected here a separate Main Water Pipe will be connected to the large Main before any of the branch services supplying the town are taken from it; so a supply of water may be given to the Barracks practically independent of the town conumption or stopping for local repairs or leaks.

This would give a very high Fire Pressure in the existing Barracks, as the Clear Water Tank of the Water Works is 240 feet higher than the parade ground of the Fermoy Barracks, and it would secure a head of Water over the highest spot on the drill Field which is suggested for the site of the new artillery Barrack of 196 feet.

For fire purposes this pressure can be still further increased by about 100 feet by means of a connection with the Main of the Supplemental Supply now being proceeded with.

Should the war department desire an independant main right up to the existing waterworks, the urban council will gladly grant permission to run one from the above-mentioned point; and this would give an entirely independant connection on the thirty million gallons storage at their works at the initial coast of portion of the main pipe only.

I may mention, incidentally, that one of the chief factors in determining the council to abandon a scheme of Cottages which are badly required, and for which all preliminaires had been carried through, in favour of an expenditure of some £8,000 for a Supplemental Water Supply, was mainly to secure an abundance of the finest quality Water for the increased Supply, necessary in the event of a New Barracks being erected here. The non-erection of the Barracks will largely influence the action of the Council as to the extent of the increase to be made in the present Water Works.

I would take the liberty, also, of drawing your attention to the position of the race course site with reference to the surrounding country. For signalling purposes, owing to its situation and elevation, it is visible from Kilworth Camp and contemplated Artillery Exercising Camp on the south-western side of the town which, it is understood, will be used this year, for the first time; and it lies centrally between these two Camps. Furthermore, I may mention that permission has been given the O.C. Royal Artillery at Fermoy by the Urban Council to take water from the stream they are acquiring for the Supplemental Supply during this year's new Camp on the Mountains at the south-west of the town.

The important river flowing through the town affords great facilities for bridging and pontoon operations, and the council would be able to give considerable assistance in arranging suitable positions for the construction of such works within the township area, when such training would be proceeded with. This latter was a point Col. Cotter, C.R.E. attached great importance to when he had a lengthened investigation on this subject with the Committee some twelve months ago.

The Committee respecfully and humble submit the foregoing and accompanying statments in support of thrir petition for the erection of the proposed New Barracks on the Fermoy Drill Field for the favour of your kind consideration, and hope you may be graciously pleased to favourable entertain same.

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