Beginnings
The first permanent military camp was established at the Curragh during the Crimean War (1855-1856). Accommodation for 10,000 men was constructed. Construction began on more solid structures in 1879 and seven red bricked barracks were built and can still be seen today.
Handover of the Curragh, 1922
The Curragh Camp was handed over to the Army of the Free State in 1922.
Courtesy Matthew McNamara, www.curragh.infoHandover of the Curragh, 1922
Courtesy Matthew McNamara, www.curragh.info
Courtesy Matthew McNamara, www.curragh.info
Handover of the Curragh, 1922
The Curragh Camp was handed over to the Army of the Free State in 1922.
Courtesy Matthew McNamara, www.curragh.infoThe Curragh Camp was handed over to the Army of the Free State in 1922. The Irish Army's training centre is based at the Curragh.
Below we will read about one of the interesting periods in the Curragh's history when foreign soldiers were interred there during World War II.
World War II
In September 1939, the then Taoiseach, Eamon de Valera, declared that Ireland would remain neutral in the war which had broken out between Great Britain and Germany.
German Internees, The Curragh, 1940s
Courtesy Matthew McNamara, www.curragh.info
Courtesy Matthew McNamara, www.curragh.info
An internment camp was built at the Curragh for any servicemen fighting on either side of the war, which were found on Irish soil. There were two compounds, 'G' camp, for Germans, and 'B' camp, for Britsh and Allied servicemen.
A WW2 Internee's Mail, The Curragh, Co. Kildare
Thw World War II internees who were interned at Curragh had their mail censored by the authorities.
Courtesy Matthew McNamara, www.curragh.infoA WW2 Internee's Mail, The Curragh, Co. Kildare
Courtesy Matthew McNamara, www.curragh.info
Courtesy Matthew McNamara, www.curragh.info
A WW2 Internee's Mail, The Curragh, Co. Kildare
Thw World War II internees who were interned at Curragh had their mail censored by the authorities.
Courtesy Matthew McNamara, www.curragh.infoThe first internees were six German airmen. Their plane crashed in Co. Kerry in August, 1940. In September, a British pilot was the first Ally to be interred. Over the following months a number of other servicemen from both sides were interred.
Conditions were not too bad - internees were allowed leave the compound for up to three hours every afternoon. Eventually, they were allowed to stay out two evenings per week. They used this time to attend the cinemas in Kilcullen, Newbridge and Kildare. They were forbidden however, to enter pubs or hotels or to talk to the locals.