The museum’s main focus is on the history of the Irish Defence Forces. Displays feature the uniforms and insignia of the Defence Forces through the years and document their United Nations service in the Congo , Lebanon and Somalia . Other displays focus on the involvement of Carlow people in military service from the Carlow Militia to Captain Myles Keogh of the US 7th Cavalry and up to the First World War.
Old Church ,
St. Dympna’s,
Athy Road,
Carlow.
Opening Times
Each Sunday from March to November from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Group tours may be arranged outside normal opening dates and times.
Admission charged.
The museum opened in 1985 and was conceived as a tribute to soldiers from the barracks on lost their lives in the line of duty. Its core collection is that of memorabilia associated with Michael Collins, including his personal diary, some personal papers, two of his revolvers and his War of Independence medal. In addition, the museum houses a large photographic collection dedicated to the history of the barracks.
Access to the museum is controlled.
Write to Officer Commanding Collins Barracks, Cork.
The new museum is located in the old guard room adjacent to the main gate. It is a most suitable location, as thousands of soldiers of differing race, creeds, uniforms and corps, have toiled in its hall and cells since it was built in 1815. This is also the very building in which the legendary Gen Sean McEoin, ‘the blacksmith of Ballinalee’ was incarcerated in March 1921. This followed his arrest at Mullingar train station by British forces.
This museum was formerly known as the Columb Barracks and Military Museum until the barracks closed. We are listing here under its former name until such time as it is renamed.
It is currently located at:
Custume Barracks
Athlone
Co. Westmeath.
Originally built to guard against French naval incursion between 1798 and 1800, by 1900 Fort Dunree was a modern coastal defence fortification. During October 1914 its guns protected the British Grand Fleet while it sheltered in Lough Swilly. In 1938 the fort was handed over to the Irish Free State and was an important part of the defence effort during the Emergency. It continued to be used for military training until the 1980s. The museum uses interactive technology to bring to life the history of the fort.
Dunree
Linsfort
Buncrana
Co. Donegal.
Opening Times
June-September: Monday to -Saturday 10.30am-6.00pm. Sunday 1.00-6.00pm.
Originally the depot of the Connaught Rangers, Renmore has been an Irish Army base since 1922. Several exhibits commemorate the Connaught Rangers with uniforms, weapons and a regimental drum on display. The War of Independence and Civil War displays include weapons landed from the Asgard in 1914, and guns belonging to Dan Breen, Michael Collins and the Countess Markievicz. There is also a motorcycle belonging to IRA leader Liam Mellows. Among the items featured from the Emergency period is a parachute used by downed German airmen in Galway .
Finally the various peacekeeping missions of the Defence Forces are illustrated, most poignantly by weapons from the 1960 Niemba ambush in the Congo in which 9 Irish soldiers died.
Military Museum ,
Dun Ui Mhaoiliosa,
Renmore Barracks,
Galway .
Visits by appointment only - call a week in advance if possible
Over the years the military has become part of the Curragh, and the Curragh part of us. Right under our feet is history dating back to prehistoric times; the Fianna used to meet at the Hill of Allen; Henry II camped here on his way to Dublin in 1171; the Jacobite army trained here in 1686-7 and the British after establishing a permanent post in 1855, trained men to go and fight in the Boer War and the trenches of the Somme during World War I.
Now, after several years of research and planning, the Curragh has its own museum, that you can visit and take in the marvels of this magnificent geographical and historical site. we took in all aspects of the Curragh - military, civilian, equitation, conservation and archaeology. The museum is sub-divided into three parts. The environment encompassing archaeology, flora and fauna; the British military presence up to 1922 and finally the Defence Forces.
Before visitors view the exhibits, they can watch an audio visual presentation that has some magnificent aerial shots of the plains including the ring fort at Dun Ailinne, which at one time was part of the Curragh. The grasslands and the aquifer were the main reasons the British Army built a camp here. Some of the flora and fauna on the plains is unique to this part of the world
Opening Hours & Contact details:
Monday 10a.m.–3p.m.
Tuesday 10a.m.–3p.m.
Wednesday 10a.m.–3p.m.
Thursday 10a.m.–3p.m.
Friday Closed
Saturday Closed
Sunday 2p.m.-5p.m.
Bank Holidays Closed
Admission is Free and there is free car parking.
Please monitor us on twitter for updates- @CurraghMuseum