Birr Barracks
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Irish English|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox military structure
| name = Birr Barracks
| native_name = Dún Bhiorra
| image = The Military Barracks, Crinkle.jpg
| caption = Entrance to Birr Barracks
| type = Barracks
| map_type = Ireland
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Ireland
| location = Crinkill, Birr, County Offaly
| coordinates = {{Coord|53.07812|N|7.895216|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| ownership =
| operator = {{flagicon|Ireland}} Irish Army
| built = 1809-1812
| used = 1812-1922
| architect =
| built_for = War Office
| garrison = Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians)
}}
Birr Barracks ({{Langx|ga|Dún Bhiorra}}) also known as Crinkill Barracks ({{Langx|ga|Dún Chríonchoill}}) was a military installation in Crinkill, near Birr, County Offaly in Ireland.
History
File:Camp, Birr, Co. Offaly (35888619112).jpg
The barracks were built by Bernard Mullins at the instigation of Lawrence Parsons, 2nd Earl of Rosse, who had supported the need to build some barracks within a few hours’ march of the River Shannon, and were completed between 1809 and 1812.Display at the entrance to the ruins of the Barracks In 1873 a system of recruiting areas based on counties was instituted under the Cardwell Reforms and the barracks became the depot for the 100th (Prince of Wales's Royal Canadian) Regiment of Foot and the 109th Regiment of Foot (Bombay Infantry).{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/depot/1873.htm |title=Training Depots |publisher=Regiments.org |accessdate=16 October 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210172841/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/depot/1873.htm |archivedate=10 February 2006 }} Following the Childers Reforms, the 100th and 109th regiments amalgamated to form the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) with its depot in the barracks in 1881. The regiment moved into the barracks on 17 November 1882.
Some 6,000 recruits enlisted at the barracks during the First World War: an airfield was built there in 1917 and Sergeant John Allan was killed when his plane crashed into Crinkill House on 28 March 1919.
The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) was disbanded at the time of Irish Independence in 1922.{{cite book|last=Murphy|first= David|title=Irish Regiments in the World Wars, quote: "Following the treaty that established the independent Irish Free State in 1922, it was decided to disband the regiments that had their traditional recruiting grounds in southern Ireland: The Royal Irish Regiment; The Connaught Rangers; The Prince of Wales' Leinster Regiment; The Royal Munster Fusiliers; The Royal Dublin Fusiliers; The South Irish Horse"|page=30|publisher= Osprey Publishing |year=2007|isbn=978-1-84603-015-4}} The barracks were taken over by the Irish Army at that time but a small group of Irish Republican Army irregulars took control of the barracks and burnt them to the ground on 14 July 1922.{{cite web|url=http://www.birrhistsoc.com/Hist.htm#Crinkle|title=Crinkle|publisher=Birr History Society|accessdate=18 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416203907/http://www.birrhistsoc.com/Hist.htm#Crinkle|archive-date=16 April 2019|url-status=dead}} The remaining ruins were demolished in 1985.
In 2013 the Regimental Association of the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) erected a memorial to commemorate the regiment's strong linkages with the area.{{cite web | title=Leinster Regiment Memorial Birr | work=Leinster Regiment Association | url=http://fisherbelfast.wordpress.com/2013/09/22/leinster-regiment-memorial-birr/|accessdate=18 November 2014}}