On a recent visit to County Westmeath, Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, stated the possibility of Athlone being selected as the new headquarters of the Irish Army.
The Tánaiste was responding to a question posed by Green Party councillor, Hazel Smyth, who queried if Columb Barracks in Mullingar was in the frame to be chosen as the proposed Defence Forces national base.
Mr Martin ruled out Columb Barracks as a choice for the Irish Army headquarters, but intimated that Athlone was a viable option.
“Columb Barracks was decommissioned by the Department of Defence and I do believe that Athlone is being looked upon as a prospect for housing the Irish Army headquarters, but definitely not Mullingar,” Minister Martin stated.
He noted that a review was “on the way” regarding the creation of a new Army headquarters, a key recommendation noted in the detailed publication of the Commission on the Defence Forces report in 2022.
“I must say that the military tradition in this region has been very, very strong. Each time that I visit the Lebanon or go to various barracks, that is so evident. There is a tremendous loyalty to the Defence Forces in the Midlands region and there has been a very honourable participation by people in the community here,” the Tánaiste added.
The designation of Athlone as the site of the new Defence Forces headquarters would bring a significant employment boost to the town and would further enhance the town’s appointment as a regional growth centre under the Government’s National Development Plan 2040..
