The tricolour is lowered as troops leave Columb Barracks, Mullingar for the last time. Photo: Paul Hughes

Some four centuries of life as a garrison town sadly came to an end for Mullingar today, after Columb Barracks, Mullingar closed its gates, and the people of the town turned out in their thousands to bid farewell to its army and reserve regiments.

After an ecumenical service, salute and the lowering of the Irish tricolour on the barracks square, the men and women of the 4 Field Artillery Regiment and the 54 Reserve Field Artillery regiment paraded through Mullingar, bound for their new home at Custume Barracks, Athlone.

Opened in the early 19th century to house a British garrison, and handed over to Provisional Government forces in 1922, Columb Barracks was Ireland's last artillery barracks.

For full coverage and photograph's, see next Wednesday's edition of the Westmeath Examiner.