National Museum of Ireland Collins Barracks

Attached three-bay two-storey guardhouse adjoining boundary wall of former Collins Barracks, erected c.1840, having steel and timber canopy supported on cast-iron columns and calp limestone piers to front (west) elevation. Now disused. Hipped slate roof, red brick chimneystack, raised granite parapet with granite platband and fascia. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Snecked calp limestone walls, cut calp block-and-start quoins. Remains of cast-iron post box to front, now in disrepair. Square-headed window openings with dressed granite surrounds, keystones, and sills throughout. Six-over-six pane timber sash windows and timber framed windows, some partly blocked, some wholly blocked, some having wrought-iron railings. Square-headed door opening to ground floor to front, dressed granite surround and keystone, timber battened door, overlight and granite step. Square-headed door opening to first floor to rear (east) elevation, dressed granite surround and keystone, timber battened door and tripartite overlight, accessible via flight of granite steps.

The wall enclosing the Royal Barracks to the south was constructed to designs by Francis Johnston in 1816, although this guard house appears to have been a later addition, providing a sense of context for the adjacent gateway. Well composed, it makes a strong, formal architectural statement, with granite dressings used to good effect to enhance the calp walls. It fulfilled an important function in housing guards who controlled entry to and exit from the barracks.