Collins Barracks in Dublin is home to the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History. Located on Benburb Street in Dublin 7, the former military barracks has more than 300 years of history and now houses collections covering Irish military history, decorative arts, fashion, furniture, silver and social history.
If you are interested in Irish history, the Irish Famine Exhibition in Dublin is another attraction worth considering. It focuses specifically on the Famine in Ireland, including starvation, disease, death and the mass emigration of Irish people to countries such as Canada and the United States.
Photo from the Irish Potato Famine Exhibition, Stephens Green Shopping Centre
For a comprehensive guide to your Dublin visit, check out our guide to things to do in Dublin.
Collins Barracks: Opening Hours, Admission and Location
Address: Benburb Street, Dublin 7, D07 XKV4, Ireland
Admission: Free
Opening Hours
The National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History at Collins Barracks is currently open:
- Tuesday to Saturday: 10am–5pm
- Sunday and Monday: 1pm–5pm
- Last Thursday of each month: late opening until 8pm
The museum recommends arriving by around 4.30pm to allow enough time to enjoy the galleries before closing.
Opening hours and individual exhibitions can occasionally change, so it is advisable to check the National Museum of Ireland's official website before visiting.
Getting to Collins Barracks
Collins Barracks is located on Benburb Street in Dublin 7, close to the River Liffey.
The museum is accessible by public transport, including the Luas Red Line, and there is pay-and-display parking at the barracks.
What is Collins Barracks?
Collins Barracks is a historic military complex that has played an important role in Dublin's history for more than three centuries.
Construction began in 1702, and the barracks was completed in the early 18th century. It was originally known as the Royal Barracks and was built to accommodate the British Army in Ireland.
The large complex contains historic buildings arranged around courtyards and parade spaces. Today, many of these buildings form part of the National Museum of Ireland.
The site was renamed Collins Barracks after Michael Collins following Irish independence.
Collins Barracks and Irish History
Collins Barracks has been connected with several important periods in Irish history.
The barracks played a role during the 1798 Rebellion and the 1803 rebellion led by Robert Emmet.
It was also an important military base during the 1916 Easter Rising. British forces based at the barracks were involved in operations during the Rising.
Following the Anglo-Irish Treaty, the British Army left the barracks in 1922 and the site was transferred to the Irish Free State.
The barracks continued to have a military role after independence before eventually becoming part of the National Museum of Ireland.
Why is it called Collins Barracks?
The site was renamed Collins Barracks in honour of Michael Collins, one of the leading figures in the Irish independence movement and Commander-in-Chief of the National Army.
The barracks remained a military installation until 1997, when its military role ended.
It was subsequently developed as a museum site, becoming the home of the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History.
Collins Barracks Becomes a Museum
The former military buildings were adapted for use by the National Museum of Ireland.
The museum opened at Collins Barracks in 1997, bringing together collections covering decorative arts, military history, social history, fashion and design.
The result is a combination of historic buildings and museum galleries, allowing visitors to explore both the history of the site and the objects displayed inside it.
The way we wore exhibition
The Architecture of Collins Barracks
The buildings themselves are an important part of a visit to Collins Barracks.
The complex contains large historic buildings arranged around open courtyards and squares. The scale and design reflect the site's original purpose as a military barracks.
Walking through the courtyards gives visitors a sense of what the site would have been like when thousands of soldiers were stationed there.
The combination of historic military architecture and modern museum galleries makes Collins Barracks different from many other Dublin museums.
What Can You See at Collins Barracks?
The National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History has a wide variety of collections at Collins Barracks.
Some of the highlights include military history, the 1916 Easter Rising, Irish silver, fashion, furniture, design and Asian art.
Soldiers and Chiefs
Soldiers and Chiefs explores Ireland's military history from the 16th century to the modern era.
The exhibition includes uniforms, weapons, medals, personal possessions and other objects connected with Irish military history.
It also explores the experiences of Irish soldiers at home and overseas and the history of the Irish Defence Forces.
Proclaiming a Republic
Proclaiming a Republic focuses on the 1916 Easter Rising and the events surrounding the declaration of an Irish Republic.
The exhibition includes documents, photographs and personal objects connected with the people involved in the Rising. It provides an insight into one of the most important events in modern Irish history.
The Way We Wore
The Way We Wore explores Irish clothing and fashion from the 18th century to the 20th century.
The collection includes clothing, jewellery and accessories and shows how fashions changed over approximately 200 years. It provides an interesting insight into Irish social history through the clothes people wore.
Irish Silver and Decorative Arts
Collins Barracks also houses important collections of Irish silver, ceramics, furniture, glass and decorative arts.
The Irish Silver collection includes examples of Irish craftsmanship and design from different periods. These collections provide an opportunity to explore Irish history through the objects people made, bought and used.
Eileen Gray
The museum has an important collection relating to Eileen Gray, the Irish designer and architect whose work became internationally recognised.
Visitors can see examples of her furniture and design work and learn more about her contribution to modern design.
A Dubliner's Collection of Asian Art
A Dubliner's Collection of Asian Art: The Albert Bender Exhibition contains objects from a major collection donated to the National Museum of Ireland by Albert Bender.
The collection includes examples of Asian art and provides a very different experience from the military and Irish history galleries.
How Long Do You Need at Collins Barracks?
The length of a visit depends on how much of the museum you want to see.
If you are mainly interested in the highlights, allow at least 1–2 hours. Visitors who want to explore the military history, decorative arts, fashion and other collections in more detail can spend longer.
Because Collins Barracks contains several galleries, it is worth deciding which collections you most want to see when you arrive.
Is Collins Barracks Free?
Yes. Admission to Collins Barracks is free.
It is one of the National Museum of Ireland's free museums, making it a useful option for visitors looking for things to do in Dublin without an admission charge.
Is Collins Barracks Worth Visiting?
Collins Barracks combines a historic Dublin military site with a wide range of museum collections.
Visitors can explore:
- Irish military history
- The 1916 Easter Rising
- Michael Collins and Irish independence
- Irish silver
- Fashion and clothing
- Furniture and everyday life
- Eileen Gray and Irish design
- Asian art
- Historic military architecture
The combination of the historic buildings and museum collections makes Collins Barracks different from many other museums in Dublin.
Other Places to Visit in Dublin for Irish History
Collins Barracks is one of several museums and historic attractions in Dublin.
Other places of interest include the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, the GPO Museum and Kilmainham Gaol.
If you are particularly interested in the Ireland Great Hunger period, the Irish Famine Exhibition in Dublin explores the history of the famine, including starvation, disease, death and mass emigration.
The exhibition also explores the experiences of Irish people who left Ireland for destinations including Canada, the United States, Britain and Australia.
If you're planning to explore the central part of the city, see our guide to Things to Do in Dublin City Centre.
Take a Virtual Tour of Collins Barracks
If you cannot visit in person, this virtual tour provides an introduction to Collins Barracks and some of its museum collections.