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The 1798 and 1803 rebellions and Napoleonic
wars caused the British Government to rethink
their defensive strategy for Dublin. The grand
design called for a chain of Military Barracks
and installations around the city.
In 1873 lands were purchased to build
Marlborough Barracks (later renamed McKee
Barracks), the last barracks to be built in the
city of Dublin. By 1888, forty-five acres had
been purchased and building commenced
to the design plan by Lt Col JF March BE.
The barracks was built at different phases
by contractors James Donovan and Mr JP
File and supervised by Major Burklie RE. The
barracks was completed almost four years
HISTORY OF MCKEE BARRACKS
By Comdt Desmond O'Reilly
later at the cost of about £90,000, purpose
built as a cavalry barracks, to accommodate
a full war strength regiment of 862 Officers,
NCOs, Men and their horses. The Phoenix
Park offered unlimited training facilities.
Well situated for movement by rail to all
parts of Ireland from the following stations:
Kingsbridge (renamed Heuston), Broadstone
(closed down) and Amiens Street (renamed
Connolly).
Originally the Barracks was built on three
sides. Officers Mess to the North, the Riding
School and stables to the West and the
Eastern Side were billets for the troops.
Cavalry tradition had the stables situated
Marlborough-Barracks 1900 Soldiers on the square in McKee Bks
