Garda Síochána Historical Society
Irish Police History







 
THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES

The Garda Museum
THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA
MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES

The Garda Síochána Museum is the museum of the Republic of Ireland's national police force. It is located in Dublin Castle. The archivist is Sergeant Paul Maher

The museum contains a vast amount of both archival and artefactual material, relating not only to the Garda Síochána, but also to the Irish Constabulary, The Royal Irish Constabulary, The Dublin Police, and The Dublin Metropolitian Police.


Museum Artefacts

Gardaí being addressed in Garda HQ Photographs and documents largely outlining the history and development of policing in Ireland in the 19th/20th centuries. Contributions made by Sir Robert Peel (1812-1818) while Chief Secretary in Dublin Castle and later by Mr. Thomas Drummond, Under Secretary, Dublin Castle (1839-1840). Thomas Drummond centralizing of regional structures put in place by Robert Peel. Artefacts relating to the establishment of the Irish Constabulary in 1822 which became the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) in 1867 and the establishment of the Dublin Police in 1836. Artefactual material relating to the disbandment of the R.I.C. in 1922 and the establishment of the Garda Síochána na h-Éireann (Guardians of the Peace of Ireland) and the merging with the Dublin Metropolitan Police (D.M.P.) in 1925. The Museum collection largely deals with the formation and developments of all three forces.


An old photograph of Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8


Archives

HQ Staff after the amalgamation of the Garda Síochána and the DMP The Historical Library contains a collection of police related publications including monthly Garda Publication from 1922 to date. Departmental Records dealing with personnel, crime and administration matters. The DMP personnel register dating from 1836 to the 1970's. RIC and DMP related genealogical queries should be directed to Garda Jim Herlihy, Blarney Garda Station, Co. Cork, Ireland, (E-mail: j_herlihy@esatclear.ie), who compiled a guide to D.M.P. records.


The Record Tower, Dublin CastleThe Record Tower, Dublin Castle.

The Record Tower was erected in about 1205. It was previously known as the Black Tower, the Gunner's Tower, the Wardrobe Tower (when it housed royal robes). The tower was a prison until the 1700s, it is said that this was where Red Hugh O'Donnell escaped from into the Wicklow mountains in 1591. Red Hugh (Aodh Rua) O'Donnell of Tír Chonaill (now Donegal) had been kidnapped by the English at Rathmullan, County Donegal in 1587 to keep the O'Donnell Clan loyal to the Crown.







Please forward any correspondence to:
The Archivist,
Garda Síochána Museum/Archives,
The Records Tower,
Dublin Castle,
Dublin 2,
Ireland.

Email: museum@garda.ie

Telephone: +353.1.6669998.
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