28 | NEW
BY COMDT JOHN O’LOGHLEN PHOTOS BY ARMN GREG DORNEY
VISIToR’S CENTRE Opens
On May 5th, a new page in the long history of Cathal Brugha Barracks was turned when the Minster for Defence officially opened the new barrack
visitor’s centre.
Mr Alan Shatter TD cut the ribbon on the new centre, formerly the old guardroom just inside the barrack’s main gate and it is hoped, over time that the exhibits on display will give visitors a better understanding of how the inhabitants of this the longest lived-in barracks in Ireland have shaped the country we now live in. During the opening ceremony,
Minister Shatter dedicated the new centre to the memory of Francis Sheehy Skeffington, Thomas Dickson and Patrick McIntyre. All newspaper editors and pacifists, they were arrested by the British Forces in the immediate aftermath of the 1916 Rising and executed without trial in the guardroom exercise yard on April 26th 1916. The officer who ordered their execution, Capt Bowen Colthurst (Royal Irish Rifles) was subsequently court-martialled and found guilty, but insane. He served only 20 months at Broadmore Asylum. The new visitor’s centre
can boast some fine military artefacts and displays that are unique to the barracks and the role it has played in Irish History. Pride of place has to go to the personal memorabilia that belonged to General Michael
An Cosantóir June 2011
