Contacting us
If you have a question about our archives and would like to search our records, please get in touch.
By email
The best way to contact us is via email:
militaryarchives@defenceforces.ie
We usually respond to email queries within 72 hours.
By post
Alternatively, you can reach us by post at the address below:
Officer in Charge,
Military Archives,
Cathal Brugha Barracks,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6
By phone
You can also call us on 00353 (0)1 8046457.
Please note, the phone is operated by the Duty Archivist during office hours on Monday and Friday. Alternatively, you can leave a voice message on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday when the reading room is open to the public. If you are contacting us from within the Defence Forces, you can find staff contacts on IKON under tab DFHQ, COS, Public Relations Branch.
Please check the FAQs on this page to see if your question has already been answered before contacting the Military Archives.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you would like to know how to request information about a relative or how to search our records and conduct in-person research, please see below.
If you have a query about the service of a family member or ancestor, please include the following details:
- where and when they served (including whether Army, Naval Service or Air Corps)
- unit, if known
- date of birth
- service number
- current home address
If you have a query about previously published sources that are either from the Military Archives or that cite the Military Archives, please include the following details:
- the exact file reference (if known)
- date of publication
- author and title
- When making an appointment, please let us know what you are hoping to research and if you have specific file references.
- If you only require one of the slots on any given day, please let us know, as this could free up potential spaces for other researchers.
- The reading room is sometimes fully booked a week in advance, so please give us plenty of notice when making an appointment.
- Please provide your car registration number for the gate policeman before your planned visit if you would like to use one of of our parking spaces.
By public transport: The number 15 Dublin bus from the city centre passes along Rathmines Road, which intersects with Military Road. The nearest stop to the Cathal Brugha Barracks is the one close to the Church of Mary Immaculate Refuge of Sinners (big green dome on the left), and St Mary's School (the red brick school behind the black railings on the right).
The LUAS green line stop at Charlemont Bridge is approximately a 10 minute walk from the barracks. Follow the canal to Portobello Bridge and turn left on to Rathmines Road. Then take a right turn on to Military Road by St Mary's School until you reach the main gates of the barracks.
On foot or by bicycle: Via the main barracks gate off Military Road (near St Mary's School).
By car: Parking is available at the barracks. Please provide your vehicle registration details before your visit. Please note, taxis are not allowed to enter the gates.
Make an Appointment
You can also book a visit to our reading room to research our records.
Our reading room opening hours are:
Tuesday to Thursday, 10.00-12.30 and 13.30-16.00.
Please check the FAQ section on this page to see if your question has already been answered before contacting the Military Archives.
Prepare for your Visit
Once you get in contact with the Military Archives, by email or otherwise, we can advise you on whether your query can be dealt with through correspondence, or if it requires an in-person visit. We can then advise you as to your next step.
- We can point you to a reading room collection online finding aid where you will find the reference numbers of files relevant to your query. If you provide those reference numbers to us before your visit, we will have them ready for you.
- The finding aid(s) that you are looking for may only be available in our reading room, but we will have them ready for you to view and can advise you on other potential sources if necessary.
- Some collections may not have a full finding aid available just yet, so it may be a case that we will check for relevant files for you and provide you with file reference numbers and details before you make an appointment.
- If your query is more general, or you require assistance to get started on your research, we are happy to bring you through the type of material we have and advise as to what collections/files may be of use for your research.
Find us
Entrance to the barracks, by foot or by car, is only through the Military Road entrance beside St. Mary's College, off the Rathmines Road. The Military Archives building is to your left as you enter the barracks through the main gate.
Please remember that this is an active barracks, so please do not walk around the rest of the barracks as you may be challenged by the patrol, and do not take any photographs of any of the buildings or main square.