Gormanston Aerodrome
Encyclopedia
Gormanston Camp is a military camp in the Republic of Ireland
and consists of approximately 260 acres. The camp is currently used by B Company, 5 Infantry Battalion and for air-ground and air-defence training. It is located between Balbriggan
and Drogheda
along the east coastline of Ireland in County Meath
in close proximity to the M1 Motorway and Gormanstown railway station.
training depot during the First World War in 1917. On 1 April 1918 the RFC was amalgamated with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force
. After the end of the War the aerodrome there started to be wound down, so by the end of January, 1920, the remaining aircraft were transferred to Baldonnel Aerodrome and all that were left were a care and maintenance team of 37 men.
did not have any effect on the winding down of Gormanstown, as aircraft were not deemed to be of any use to the guerrilla type of war that was taking place. From August 1920 to August 1922 Gormanstown was used by the Royal Irish Constabulary Black and Tans as a sub-depot for the training of new recruits, and as well as a despatch centre to send Black and Tans all over the country. The camp was also used at this time as an internment camp for Republican prisoners. After the Treaty of 14 January 1922
, Gormanstown became the main demobilisation centre for the Black and Tans. The evacuation of the force was meant to be completed by 31 March 1922, but due to delays it was August before the last Black and Tans left Gormanstown and the camp was handed over to the Irish National Army. This was during the Irish Civil War which started on 28 June 1922. Gormanstown then became the Headquarters of the Transport Section of the National Army. The ceremonial opening of Gormanstown was on October 8, 1922.
who was made O/C by the prisoners, and famous names like Tom Barry
who escaped on 28 September 1922, Sean T O'Kelly, Connie McNamara
and author Frank O'Connor
.
Although the Civil War ended on May 24, 1923, the Free State
continued to hold over 12,000 Republican prisoners as hostages throughout Ireland to ensure hostilities did not break out again. A hunger strike was organised by Republican commandant Oscar Traynor in October 1923 to protest at conditions in the camp as well as continued internment. It was in December 1923 when the last prisoners left the camp.
(known colloquially in Ireland as "The Emergency"), the camp was used as accommodation for up to 2,000 men who were billeted in forty Nissen huts and the camp was used for a time as an internment camp for the detention of up to 40 RAF aircrews who had crashed landed or made emergency landing in the state. The RAF prisoners were repatriated in two groups one in 1943 and the remainder in May 1944. The airfield had been used on an annual basis since 1935, it was not until 1945 that the Air Corps occupied the camp on a permanent basis. No 1 Fighter Squadron was stationed there in 1944 and were equipped with Hawker Hurricanes.
Due to the escalation in civil strife in Northern Ireland in the summer of 1969, Gormanstown was designated as a refugee centre in August 1969. Large numbers of people mainly from Belfast moved Southwards to escape the violence and were housed in the refugee camp. By the end of October 1971 up to 12,000 persons had passed through the camp.
The airfield was closed officially from 2002 but it is still used extensively used for Air to Ground Firing and local army activities. Both runways at the airfield are unserviceable (originally three runways), however it is believed since Gormanstown tower and approach is still active, the tarmac runway of 810m X 10m is still in a good enough condition to be used in an emergency.
The airfield is often used by model aircraft flyers, although not officially open to the public or civilian activities. Today the AAIU (Air Accident Investigation Unit - Ireland) is based in the original Air Corps hangars on field - the RFC hangars no longer exist.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and consists of approximately 260 acres. The camp is currently used by B Company, 5 Infantry Battalion and for air-ground and air-defence training. It is located between Balbriggan
Balbriggan
Balbriggan is a town in the northern part of the administrative county of Fingal, within County Dublin, Ireland. The 2006 census population was 15,559 for Balbriggan and its environs.- Name :...
and Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
along the east coastline of Ireland in County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
in close proximity to the M1 Motorway and Gormanstown railway station.
Early years
The camp started life as a Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
training depot during the First World War in 1917. On 1 April 1918 the RFC was amalgamated with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. After the end of the War the aerodrome there started to be wound down, so by the end of January, 1920, the remaining aircraft were transferred to Baldonnel Aerodrome and all that were left were a care and maintenance team of 37 men.
War of Independence
The Irish War of IndependenceIrish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
did not have any effect on the winding down of Gormanstown, as aircraft were not deemed to be of any use to the guerrilla type of war that was taking place. From August 1920 to August 1922 Gormanstown was used by the Royal Irish Constabulary Black and Tans as a sub-depot for the training of new recruits, and as well as a despatch centre to send Black and Tans all over the country. The camp was also used at this time as an internment camp for Republican prisoners. After the Treaty of 14 January 1922
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
, Gormanstown became the main demobilisation centre for the Black and Tans. The evacuation of the force was meant to be completed by 31 March 1922, but due to delays it was August before the last Black and Tans left Gormanstown and the camp was handed over to the Irish National Army. This was during the Irish Civil War which started on 28 June 1922. Gormanstown then became the Headquarters of the Transport Section of the National Army. The ceremonial opening of Gormanstown was on October 8, 1922.
Internment Camp
An Internment camp was then built in Gormanston to house the vast numbers of Republican prisoners that were captured by the Free State. The Internment camp was under the command of Commandant Morken. The first prisoners to be interned in the camp arrived on September 9, 1922 and there were about 1,000 Republican prisoners interned there, the internees included Oscar TraynorOscar Traynor
Oscar Traynor was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and revolutionary. He served in a number of Cabinet positions, most notably as the country's longest-serving Minister for Defence....
who was made O/C by the prisoners, and famous names like Tom Barry
Tom Barry
Thomas Barry was one of the most prominent guerrilla leaders in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence.-Early life:...
who escaped on 28 September 1922, Sean T O'Kelly, Connie McNamara
Cornelius McNamara
Cornelius McNamara, better known as Connie Mc Namara, was the Captain of "A" Company Active Service Unit of the Second Battalion Mid-Limerick Brigade in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence.-Early life:Cornelius McNamara was born in Limerick City, the son of a butcher...
and author Frank O'Connor
Frank O'Connor
Frank O’Connor was an Irish author of over 150 works, best known for his short stories and memoirs.-Early life:...
.
Although the Civil War ended on May 24, 1923, the Free State
Free State
The Free State is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Orange Free State Boer republic and later Orange Free State Province. The current borders of the province date from 1994 when the Bantustans...
continued to hold over 12,000 Republican prisoners as hostages throughout Ireland to ensure hostilities did not break out again. A hunger strike was organised by Republican commandant Oscar Traynor in October 1923 to protest at conditions in the camp as well as continued internment. It was in December 1923 when the last prisoners left the camp.
World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
(known colloquially in Ireland as "The Emergency"), the camp was used as accommodation for up to 2,000 men who were billeted in forty Nissen huts and the camp was used for a time as an internment camp for the detention of up to 40 RAF aircrews who had crashed landed or made emergency landing in the state. The RAF prisoners were repatriated in two groups one in 1943 and the remainder in May 1944. The airfield had been used on an annual basis since 1935, it was not until 1945 that the Air Corps occupied the camp on a permanent basis. No 1 Fighter Squadron was stationed there in 1944 and were equipped with Hawker Hurricanes.
Post-war Years
After the war the Hurricanes were replaced with Spitfires in 1947, and in 1956 the Fighter Squadron was transferred to Baldonnel Aerodrome, whilst an Air Corps training faculty remained at the base.Due to the escalation in civil strife in Northern Ireland in the summer of 1969, Gormanstown was designated as a refugee centre in August 1969. Large numbers of people mainly from Belfast moved Southwards to escape the violence and were housed in the refugee camp. By the end of October 1971 up to 12,000 persons had passed through the camp.
The airfield was closed officially from 2002 but it is still used extensively used for Air to Ground Firing and local army activities. Both runways at the airfield are unserviceable (originally three runways), however it is believed since Gormanstown tower and approach is still active, the tarmac runway of 810m X 10m is still in a good enough condition to be used in an emergency.
The airfield is often used by model aircraft flyers, although not officially open to the public or civilian activities. Today the AAIU (Air Accident Investigation Unit - Ireland) is based in the original Air Corps hangars on field - the RFC hangars no longer exist.