Type Military barracks | Year built 1801 | |
 | ||
Open tothe public Partial (Barracks museum is open to public at certain times) Garrison 1st Southern Brigade of Irish Army | ||
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.
Contents
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 nationalist Thomas 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.
During the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921), Auxiliary forces based at the barracks were implicated in events surrounding the Burning of Cork. British forces from the barracks were also involved in the executions of several Republican prisoners. On 28 April 1921, four Volunteers, Maurice Moore, Thomas Mulcahy, Patrick O'Sullivan and Patrick Ronayne, were executed by firing squad at the barracks, followed by the execution of Patrick Casey a few days later, and of Daniel O'Brien on 16 May 1921.
Following the War of Independence, under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, and after housing British forces in the city for more than one hundred years, the barracks were handed over to Commandant Sean Murray of the Army of the Irish Free State in 1922. The barracks were substantially damaged by retreating Anti-Treaty forces during the Irish Civil War, and after this conflict were renamed for Michael Collins, the first commander-in-chief of the Free State, and a native of County Cork.
Late 20th century
A garrison for the Southern Command of the Irish Army since the 1920s, the complex was visited by US President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
The barracks now houses the headquarters of 1 Southern Brigade, with permanent and reserve elements of several army corps, including infantry, artillery, engineering and logistics units.
From 2003 the barracks were subject to a modernisation programme, with the building of new messing facilities, a gymnasium and other works.