Palace Barracks, Holywood

Palace Barracks, Holywood is a British military installation 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, six 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 British army 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 has been the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Irish Regiment since 2008 and the home base of several squadrons of the 152 (Ulster) Transport Regiment (Volunteers). In March 2010, it was the site of a bombing, one of several attacks carried out by "hardline Republicans" in 2010; other attacks included the Newry car bombing.