Collins Barracks, Cork

Collins Barracks is a military barracks on the Old Youghal Road on the north side of Cork in Ireland.

Originally erected between 1801 and 1806, the 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.

After housing British forces in the city for more than one hundred years, the barracks were handed over by the British Government to Commandant Sean Murray of the Army of the Irish Free State in 1922, under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty (which marked the end of the Irish War of Independence). The barracks were soon renamed for Michael Collins, the first commander-in-chief of the Free State, and a native of County Cork.

A garrison for the Southern Command of the Irish Army since then, the complex was visited by US President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

It features the largest military barracks parade square in Europe, and is home to both regular (PDF) and reserve (RDF) units from many corps, including the headquarters of 1 Southern Brigade, Infantry, Artillery, Engineering and Logistics.

From 2004 the barracks have been subject to a modernisation programme. This programme involved building new messing facilities, a gymnasium and workshops.