Fermoy (Part Three)

Fermoy is a town in east County Cork, Ireland and its name refers to a monastery that was founded there in 13th century. It has a population of 5.800 and is situated on the banks of the River Blackwater. At the dissolution of the monasteries during the Tudor period, the Abbey and its lands passed through the following dynasties: Sir Richard Grenville, Robert Boyle and William Forward. In 1791, the lands around Fermoy were bought by a Scotsman, John Anderson. He was an entrepreneur and developed the streets and roads around Fermoy and also began a mail coach system in Ireland.
Fermoy was the site of a major British Army barracks facility, when Ireland was under Imperial rule. In 1797, when the army was looking to establish a new permanent base, Anderson gave them lands as an inducement to locate in Fermoy. Anderson and Fermoy received considerable economic benefit from the arrangement. In 1806, the first barracks , the East Barracks was built. This was located on 16.5 acres of land and provided accommodation for 112 officers and 1747 infantry men, and 24 officers, 120 men and 112 horses of cavalry. A general hospital was also built with 130 beds. In 1809, the West Barracks was completed. This had a general hospital of 42 beds. When the two facilities were completed there was accommodation for 14 field officers, 169 men, 2816 men and 152 horses. By the end of the 1830's, this was the largest military facility in Ireland. The town of Fermoy expanded around these facilities and retained its British military presence until 1922, when the Irish Free State was first established.