Richmond Barracks

Richmond Barracks is home to Inchicore Library and owned and conserved by Dublin City Council.

History

Richmond Barracks is a former British Army barracks which was refurbished for cultural and community use by Dublin City Council in 2016.

It was originally built in 1810 in response to the threat of a French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars. It was one of the British Army's largest barracks in Dublin at the time.

In the aftermath of the 1916 Easter Rising, the barracks was used to imprison over 3,000 suspected rebels, including its leaders. Patrick Pearse, James Connolly and Joseph Plunkett were all court-martialled in Richmond Barracks before being brought to Kilmainham Gaol for execution.

The site is also home to Goldenbridge Cemetery, Ireland’s first Victorian garden cemetery, which was founded by Daniel O’Connell in 1828 as a burial place for people of all religions.

In 1922, when the site was turned over to the newly established Irish Free State, it became a keystone of working class Dublin, hosting a housing estate and a Christian Brothers’ School.

Refurbishment and Reopening

In 2016, major refurbishment works were completed as part of a Dublin City Council Community Partnership to restore and commemorate the heritage of the building.

Inchicore Library was expanded and reopened in September 2025. It offers a range of adult fiction and non-fiction material, a selection of young adult material and a junior library. It also runs monthly groups and free events for adults and kids that are open for anyone to join in. Inchicore Library is run by Dublin City Libraries.

The building is home to the Culture Connects programme, a year-round programme of cultural activities that celebrate the experiences and interests of the local communities and people. It invites people in Dublin to try out new things and offer ways for people to make and create together, to share ideas, and connect through culture and conversation. Culture Connects is made by Dublin City Council Culture Company.

Today, visitors can enjoy walking tours, cultural activities and community events, including seasonal fairs, exhibitions, workshops, talks and book clubs.