28th Infantry Battalion to celebrate 50 years of meritorious service

The 28th Infantry Battalion are this week celebrating and commemorating 50 years of meritorious service at Finner Camp.

There will be a short ceremonial display and parade on Thursday at 2pm with refreshments served afterwards. A number of new and old vehicles, weapons and uniforms will be on display. The event will be attended by serving and retired members and their families.

Finner Camp’s origins go back to 1896 when the land was purchased from a local family by the British War Office for the establishment of a training camp; those trained there included the 36th (Ulster) Division in advance of their service in the Great War. 

In 1922, Finner Camp, just outside Bundoran, was handed over from the Bedfordshire regiment of the British Army to the local Irish military forces after the War of Independence and the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

Following civil disturbances in Northern Ireland back in 1969, the Irish Government decided to establish several barracks and posts, including Rockhill House and Lifford Barracks, near the Border.  On September 1, 1973, the 28th Infantry Battalion was activated and replaced the temporary infantry groups that had been operating out of Finner Camp from 1969 to 1973.

In April 2009 the 28th Infantry Battalion received the Freedom of the County award in recognition of their longstanding service to the County of Donegal.