Civic Buildings

Military Museum Collins Barracks

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The Military Museum Collins Barracks is located in the Old Guard Room inside the old Main Entrance Gate to Collins Barracks.  

The Old Guard Room building was erected in 1806 in the reign of King George III. It was designed to be the main security guard room of the Barrack overlooking the Main Gate with a view down Military Hill.  

In 1985 as part of the Cork 800 celebrations, a memorial museum and reference library was established. The museum is dedicated to the memory of those members of the garrison who had died performing their duty. In 2005 this Museum was relocated to the Old Guard Room.

The museum exhibits have 3 themes i.e. the History of the Barracks, Michael Collins and Peacekeeping. Although the core collection has a wide range of memorabilia associated with Michael Collins, it also boasts displays from donated private collections e.g. uniforms, weapons etc. The exterior layout presents a Shaker cannon from the 1550s, a rare mobile ordnance workshop, a 2 pounder 1940s field artillery piece and a Panhard Armoured Personnel Carrier.

Designed by John Gibson the building has a very fine archway. Originally this would have served the purpose of allowing the Guard full view of the Gate and the road. The officer of the day would also have kept his horse in the hallway.

In recent times the building has been renovated to include new windows and doors and an enclosed glass section to allow for observation of the Barrack Parade Ground. A plaque on the eastern wall gives an account of the timeframe of the construction of the building.

The building is important from an architectural point of view as an example of perfect scale and proportion, in Georgian Architecture. The Barracks is organized around a large square parade ground which is considered to be one of the finest in the country.

It is also significant from a historic perspective. Collins barracks has fulfilled its function for almost two hundred years and is the oldest continually occupied military building in Cork City.  

The fine limestone gateway has been the focal point of historic events in Ireland since the time of the Crimean War in 1856 with the return of the 17 Lancers after the Battle of Balaclava. It was the location for the handing over of the Barracks from the British Government to Commandant Sean Murray of the Irish Army in 1922, and was visited by President Kennedy in 1963.  

In the present time the barracks has continued to transform to meet the needs of the garrison. The arrival of personnel from Ballincollig and Fermoy resulted in significant investment in the Barrack infrastructure with a new Dining Complex and Mess opened in recent times.

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