Garda Museum
Free museum in Dublin Castle on the history of An Garda Síochána and of policing in Ireland; closed until January 2027.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Garda Museum and Archives is in the Treasury Building of Dublin Castle and is run by An Garda Síochána, the national police service of the Republic of Ireland. It replaced an older museum that had been housed in the castle’s Record Tower. The new museum was officially opened in December 2016 and opened to the public in August 2017 after a delay of several months.
Its exhibition follows the history of law enforcement in the Republic of Ireland from medieval watchmen through the baronial and county constabularies, the Dublin Metropolitan Police, which was founded in 1836, and the Royal Irish Constabulary to the Civic Guard and the Garda Síochána. The collection includes photographs and documents from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as well as uniforms, medals and other objects, and the museum has a library of police-related publications.
The museum is combined with the Garda archives, and researchers working on police history can be helped there. The force’s main archives are held in the Garda National Repository. At present the whole Dublin Castle campus, including the museum, is closed to the public during Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, and visitors are expected back in January 2027.
Highlights
- Exhibition on the history of An Garda Síochána and of policing in Ireland before 1922
- Uniforms, medals, photographs and documents from the 19th and 20th centuries
- Library of police-related publications
- Free admission in the Treasury Building of Dublin Castle
Permanent exhibition
- History of An Garda Síochána and policing in Ireland – The exhibition covers the Garda Síochána and policing in Ireland before 1922, with photographs, documents and objects from the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Founded
- 2017
- Operated by
- An Garda Síochána
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission was free before the closure.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Researchers working on police history can be helped at the museum and archives; contact the museum by email or phone. |
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