Beggars Bush, Dublin
Beggars Bush is the site of a former barracks on Haddington Road in Dublin City South (Dublin 4), Ireland, as well the surrounding area and a nearby pub. The barracks were bordered to the east by Shelbourne Road, which used to be the western bank of the River Dodder.
History
The British Army used the barracks, which dated from 1827, as a recruit training depot for the garrison in Ireland. The barracks was handed over to Michael Collins and the Free State military on 31 January 1922, the first British barracks to be handed to the new Provisional Government. Robert Erskine Childers was executed in the barracks on 24 November 1922. The army closed the barracks in the 1920s.
The open square just inside the main gate was the infantry parade ground, and was surrounded by the infantry and cavalry (on the left) quarters.
Further in there is the clock tower. At the back on the right there was the barracks chapel (now a museum), next to that was the quartermasters house. Further east the cook house and at the far east end the hospital.
Several organisations are based in the barracks:
- Labour Relations Commission, Ireland in Tom Johnson House
- National Print Museum of Ireland is based in the former Garrison Chapel
- Geological Survey of Ireland
- Irish Labour History Society Museum
Trivia
- Beggars Bush is mentioned in the song Whiskey on a Sunday, in the versions made popular by performers including The Irish Rovers and The Dubliners.
- Flogging Molly lead singer and guitarist Dave King grew up in Beggars Bush, and the band recorded a song called "The Ol' Beggars Bush" on their album Swagger. Also on the album was the song "Life in Tenement Square" which is believed to reference the barracks.
External links
- Official site of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources which gives date of barracks
- Chapter II from The Neighbourhood of Dublin (1920) by Weston St. John Joyce
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