Originally called simply The Barracks, and later The Royal Barracks, the name was changed to Collins Barracks when handed over to the Irish Free State in 1922.
Built in 1702, and further extended in the late 18th century and 19th century, the complex's main buildings are neo-classical in style. Since 1997 the barracks have been home to collections of the National Museum of Ireland (for Decorative Arts and History exhibits), and the original structures have seen some award winning redevelopment and conservation work to support this new role.
Collins Barracks is a military barracks on the Old Youghal Road on the north side of Cork in Ireland. Originally serving as a British military barracks from the early 19th century, it was handed-over to the Irish military following the Irish War of Independence, and remains the headquarters of the 1st Brigade of the Irish Army. A museum in the barracks is open to the public at selected times.
History
Formation
Originally erected between 1801 and 1806, the barracks' works were completed by Abraham Hargrave to designs by John Gibson in a prominent position on the hills overlooking the city and the River Lee.
Initially known simply as The Barracks, the complex was extended in 1849 and renamed to Victoria Barracks, to celebrate a visit by Queen Victoria.
Independence
In the period following the Easter Rising (1916), the Irish nationalistThomas Kent was executed by firing squad at the barracks. He was the only person outside Dublin, apart from Roger Casement, to be executed for participation following the Rising, and the married quarters of the Barracks were later named in his memory.
An extract from an RTE Nationwide program first aired on the 13th of November, 2015
published: 07 Feb 2016
COLLINS BARRACKS MUSEUM CORK
A slide show that gives an overview of the museum. Admission is free and there is free parking on the barracks side of the street!
published: 04 Sep 2013
Collin's barracks Cork IDF passing out parade
Passing out parade Collins barracks Cork 2015
published: 22 Sep 2015
Collins Bks Cork 18/12/12
Stand down 1lsb by Gonker
published: 19 Dec 2012
Troops Lift Collins to Kilworth Camp
A recent Army Recce and Sniper Exercise saw personnel being heli inserted into Kilworth by the Air Corps.
published: 10 May 2014
Cork Through The Barracks & Launch video
Cork Through The Barracks tells the history of Collins Barracks in Cork, Ireland and the role it has played in many of the historical events locally, nationally and internationally.
published: 18 May 2021
Tánaiste Micheál Martin opens new Accommodation Block at Collins Barracks, Cork
The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin TD, today officially opened a new €4.5m accommodation block at Collins Barracks, Cork.
The new self-contained block, which has capacity for 41 people, will increase the supply of single living-in (SLI) and troops in training accommodation for enlisted personnel at the site.
published: 16 Apr 2024
Collins relatives attend military archives ceremony
Family members of Irish revolutionary and key figure in the struggle for independence, Michael Collins, have attended a military commemoration at Cathal Brugha barracks in Dublin.
It is 100 years since General Collins was shot dead in an ambush on his convoy at Beál na Bláth, Co Cork.
Keep up to date with all the latest Irish and international news and current affairs with http://www.rte.ie/news
Follow us on twitter @rtenews and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/rtenews
published: 22 Aug 2022
100 Paces (excerpt)
At the initial site visit to the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks, attention was drawn to the dynamic acoustics and the architecture of Clarke Square (formally known as Palatine Square).
This square seemed to Taylor to be a natural amphitheatre for a sound based work. However the real starting point for the work was the original hand painted pace markings located on the walls on both sides of Clarke Square, a historical legacy from a time when the British Army occupied the barracks. These pace markings numbered 0-100 were used to assist army recruits whilst learning drill movements. Sean Taylor reflected on a number of other elements that shaped the work, the weight of the historical legacy of Anglo/Irish conflicts, as well as the changing nature of this relationship and t...
Cork Through The Barracks tells the history of Collins Barracks in Cork, Ireland and the role it has played in many of the historical events locally, nationally...
Cork Through The Barracks tells the history of Collins Barracks in Cork, Ireland and the role it has played in many of the historical events locally, nationally and internationally.
Cork Through The Barracks tells the history of Collins Barracks in Cork, Ireland and the role it has played in many of the historical events locally, nationally and internationally.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin TD, today officially opened a new €4.5m accommodation block at Collins Barracks, Cork.
The new self-conta...
The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin TD, today officially opened a new €4.5m accommodation block at Collins Barracks, Cork.
The new self-contained block, which has capacity for 41 people, will increase the supply of single living-in (SLI) and troops in training accommodation for enlisted personnel at the site.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin TD, today officially opened a new €4.5m accommodation block at Collins Barracks, Cork.
The new self-contained block, which has capacity for 41 people, will increase the supply of single living-in (SLI) and troops in training accommodation for enlisted personnel at the site.
Family members of Irish revolutionary and key figure in the struggle for independence, Michael Collins, have attended a military commemoration at Cathal Brugha ...
Family members of Irish revolutionary and key figure in the struggle for independence, Michael Collins, have attended a military commemoration at Cathal Brugha barracks in Dublin.
It is 100 years since General Collins was shot dead in an ambush on his convoy at Beál na Bláth, Co Cork.
Keep up to date with all the latest Irish and international news and current affairs with http://www.rte.ie/news
Follow us on twitter @rtenews and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/rtenews
Family members of Irish revolutionary and key figure in the struggle for independence, Michael Collins, have attended a military commemoration at Cathal Brugha barracks in Dublin.
It is 100 years since General Collins was shot dead in an ambush on his convoy at Beál na Bláth, Co Cork.
Keep up to date with all the latest Irish and international news and current affairs with http://www.rte.ie/news
Follow us on twitter @rtenews and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/rtenews
At the initial site visit to the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks, attention was drawn to the dynamic acoustics and the architecture of Clarke Squ...
At the initial site visit to the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks, attention was drawn to the dynamic acoustics and the architecture of Clarke Square (formally known as Palatine Square).
This square seemed to Taylor to be a natural amphitheatre for a sound based work. However the real starting point for the work was the original hand painted pace markings located on the walls on both sides of Clarke Square, a historical legacy from a time when the British Army occupied the barracks. These pace markings numbered 0-100 were used to assist army recruits whilst learning drill movements. Sean Taylor reflected on a number of other elements that shaped the work, the weight of the historical legacy of Anglo/Irish conflicts, as well as the changing nature of this relationship and the traditional perception of soldiers as professionally trained killers.
There was a realisation that the work needed voices, lots of voices, these voices also had to able to march, sing and drill at the same time. It had to be performed by soldiers, lots of soldiers. The next step in the process was to approach the Defence Forces with an idea to work with a group of soldiers. After submitting a proposal, permission to work with army personnel was granted by Lt. General Jim Sreenan, Chief of Staff, Irish Defence Forces in August 2006.
In August 2006 Taylor was assigned to work with a company of soldiers from the Command Brigade Training Centre, at Collins Barracks in Cork. Over a five month period (August to December 2006) he worked collaboratively together choreographing and developing the work on the parade ground in Collins Barracks Cork. In January 2007 he shot the video of 100 PACES in Clarke Square in the National Museum at Collins Barracks, Dublin. In February they presented three publicly advertised performances of 100 PACES in the Museum.
At the initial site visit to the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks, attention was drawn to the dynamic acoustics and the architecture of Clarke Square (formally known as Palatine Square).
This square seemed to Taylor to be a natural amphitheatre for a sound based work. However the real starting point for the work was the original hand painted pace markings located on the walls on both sides of Clarke Square, a historical legacy from a time when the British Army occupied the barracks. These pace markings numbered 0-100 were used to assist army recruits whilst learning drill movements. Sean Taylor reflected on a number of other elements that shaped the work, the weight of the historical legacy of Anglo/Irish conflicts, as well as the changing nature of this relationship and the traditional perception of soldiers as professionally trained killers.
There was a realisation that the work needed voices, lots of voices, these voices also had to able to march, sing and drill at the same time. It had to be performed by soldiers, lots of soldiers. The next step in the process was to approach the Defence Forces with an idea to work with a group of soldiers. After submitting a proposal, permission to work with army personnel was granted by Lt. General Jim Sreenan, Chief of Staff, Irish Defence Forces in August 2006.
In August 2006 Taylor was assigned to work with a company of soldiers from the Command Brigade Training Centre, at Collins Barracks in Cork. Over a five month period (August to December 2006) he worked collaboratively together choreographing and developing the work on the parade ground in Collins Barracks Cork. In January 2007 he shot the video of 100 PACES in Clarke Square in the National Museum at Collins Barracks, Dublin. In February they presented three publicly advertised performances of 100 PACES in the Museum.
Cork Through The Barracks tells the history of Collins Barracks in Cork, Ireland and the role it has played in many of the historical events locally, nationally and internationally.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin TD, today officially opened a new €4.5m accommodation block at Collins Barracks, Cork.
The new self-contained block, which has capacity for 41 people, will increase the supply of single living-in (SLI) and troops in training accommodation for enlisted personnel at the site.
Family members of Irish revolutionary and key figure in the struggle for independence, Michael Collins, have attended a military commemoration at Cathal Brugha barracks in Dublin.
It is 100 years since General Collins was shot dead in an ambush on his convoy at Beál na Bláth, Co Cork.
Keep up to date with all the latest Irish and international news and current affairs with http://www.rte.ie/news
Follow us on twitter @rtenews and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/rtenews
At the initial site visit to the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks, attention was drawn to the dynamic acoustics and the architecture of Clarke Square (formally known as Palatine Square).
This square seemed to Taylor to be a natural amphitheatre for a sound based work. However the real starting point for the work was the original hand painted pace markings located on the walls on both sides of Clarke Square, a historical legacy from a time when the British Army occupied the barracks. These pace markings numbered 0-100 were used to assist army recruits whilst learning drill movements. Sean Taylor reflected on a number of other elements that shaped the work, the weight of the historical legacy of Anglo/Irish conflicts, as well as the changing nature of this relationship and the traditional perception of soldiers as professionally trained killers.
There was a realisation that the work needed voices, lots of voices, these voices also had to able to march, sing and drill at the same time. It had to be performed by soldiers, lots of soldiers. The next step in the process was to approach the Defence Forces with an idea to work with a group of soldiers. After submitting a proposal, permission to work with army personnel was granted by Lt. General Jim Sreenan, Chief of Staff, Irish Defence Forces in August 2006.
In August 2006 Taylor was assigned to work with a company of soldiers from the Command Brigade Training Centre, at Collins Barracks in Cork. Over a five month period (August to December 2006) he worked collaboratively together choreographing and developing the work on the parade ground in Collins Barracks Cork. In January 2007 he shot the video of 100 PACES in Clarke Square in the National Museum at Collins Barracks, Dublin. In February they presented three publicly advertised performances of 100 PACES in the Museum.
Originally called simply The Barracks, and later The Royal Barracks, the name was changed to Collins Barracks when handed over to the Irish Free State in 1922.
Built in 1702, and further extended in the late 18th century and 19th century, the complex's main buildings are neo-classical in style. Since 1997 the barracks have been home to collections of the National Museum of Ireland (for Decorative Arts and History exhibits), and the original structures have seen some award winning redevelopment and conservation work to support this new role.