Finally, a Yelper visits the best-kept secret in Dublin!
When your taxi driver says, "Tirty years a drivin' in this city and I never heard a Richmond Barracks," then you know you've stumbled onto a hidden gem! We had the entire place to ourselves, a museum way off the beaten path. Kudos to my wife for always finding these attractions.
Richmond Barracks was an enormous compound erected by the British Army in 1810 when Dublin was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. A century later, it served as a quarantine during World War I for prisoners accused of fighting for Ireland's independence. The extant building went through multiple reincarnations, from hosting the Irish Army post-independence to public housing for the poor. The last remaining occupant would be Christian Brothers school in 2006. Opening in 2016, the museum manages to capture every bit of this history within its limited space.
What remains today in the blue collar Inchicore neighborhood is a tiny piece of the once massive, sprawling military base. Only a small section of the easternmost barracks stands today, the building originally just north of the notable arched courtyard entrance, a small yet historically pivotal section. The neighboring park now occupies that former courtyard.
Seeing the small museum with a guide is imperative to learn the true story. You'll hear information from a knowledgeable personal guide that isn't even taught in schools yet as more about Richmond Barracks is still being revealed. Insight is only now coming to light about various periods in Irish history. As you stand in the gymnasium, you'll hear chilling tales of the British military leaders standing above, singling out certain Irish rebels for execution including the masterminds of the Easter Rebellion Tom Clarke and Seán MacDermott. Audio interpretations of eyewitness accounts are chilling!
You'll learn about the 1920s school that occupied the site, whose presence singlehandedly saved the remaining wing of the barracks that stands today. The guide will answer your every question, including details of the unscrupulous behavior of the Irish government who promised the neighborhood they would leave the iconic archway of the barracks, only to surreptitiously demolish it in one fell swoop. You may also want to visit neighboring Goldenbridge Cemetery, where victims of the Irish Potato Famine were buried in mass graves in the 1840s.
There are several amazing aspects about Richmond Barracks that promotes it from a 4-star to a 5-star experience. What it lacks in size it more than makes up for in historic impact, the implications of which are still fluid, gradually and actively revealing its history through uncovered facts and research of which most Irish citizens are not even aware. More amazing is the fact that the other historic sites in town refused to embrace Richmond Barracks or offer any marketing assistance to the museum. Despite that, the museum has defied the odds and risen to become one of the most recommended attractions in Dublin, the ultimate underdog prevailing!
Every effort is made to create a personable experience, an informative tour, and unique programs for adults and children. If you want that tourist gem without all the tourists, this is the place to go in Dublin! With an overwhelmingly compelling history, give them your patronage and you shall reap great rewards.
And if you're hungry, yes, they have a nice café. read more