Defence Forces Military Archives - FAQ
If you have a question in relation to access to Military Archives or types of records we may hold, please consult the FAQ (frequently asked questions) below.
An bhfuil seirbíis tré Ghaeilge ar fáil sa Chartlann Mhíleata?
Tá seirbhís Ghaeilge ar fáil más míon leat. Ní mór duit teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an Captaen Mac Eoin, leas-ceannasaí an Chartlann Mhíleata. An seoladh atá again ná:
OIC,
An Chartlann Mhíleata,
Dún Chathail Bhrugha,
Ráth Maonais.
Baile Átha Cliath 6,
Éire
FAQ List
- How do I contact Military Archives?
- I want to find out about an ancestor’s service in the First/Second World War. How do I trace my ancestor’s service in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the Royal Munster Fusiliers, the Irish Guards or other Irish regiments and formations in the British Army?
- How do I gain access to personal records of an ancestor or relative who served in the Defence Forces or National Army?
- How do I access pension records from the Army Pensions Board?
- I have lost my grandfather’s 1916/War of Independence medal. How do I get another one issued?
- Can I access information from the archives by writing in?
- How do I get to Military Archives?
- I have material that may be of interest to Military Archives. How do I make a donation?
- How do I gain access to the Bureau of Military History collection?
- How do I book an appointment, and what facilities are available in the reading room?
How do I contact Military Archives?
Please see the ‘Contact Us’ page. Note that individual requests for private research will NOT be entertained. In order to ensure an efficient service, researchers are urged to include the following in all postal correspondence, where possible:
- A contact address, telephone number and email address.
- If your query relates to the service of a family member or ancestor:
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Details of where and when the person served (including whether Army, Naval Service or Air Corps) and unit, if known, as well as date of birth, service number and contemporary home address
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- If your query relates to previously published sources from the Military Archives: exact file reference (if known), date and title
I want to find out about an ancestor’s service in the First/Second World War. How do I trace my ancestor’s service in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the Royal Munster Fusiliers, the Irish Guards or other Irish regiments and formations in the British Army?
Military Archives does NOT hold records for people who served in the British Army. Military Archives only holds records for the Irish Defence Forces/National Army, the Department of Defence and the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board series is currently being worked on by an archival project, and access is available only to next-of-kin (see the FAQ section below). Records extend back as far as the formation of the Irish Volunteers in 1913. You can try looking in other archive services in Ireland (e.g. Dublin City Library and Archive on Pearse Street has a collection of private papers from the Royal Dublin Fusiliers) or go to the National Archives of England website at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
How do I gain access to personal records of an ancestor or relative who served in the Defence Forces or National Army?
Due to data protection requirements, personal records are currently available to direct next of kin only. In exceptional circumstances, direct next of kin may give permission to a third party researcher to proceed with an enquiry on their behalf. Military Archives will require a signed letter of application for such records, and photo identification may be required. Copies of birth cert(s) should be provided to establish your relationship to the data subject. Where significant doubt exists as to your relationship with the data subject, OIC Military Archives may request a death certificate for the subject and/or a sworn affidavit stating the next of kin relationship. All of this is done simply to ensure privacy for the data subject concerned.
If you are direct next of kin, you should apply to see your ancestors’ records as follows:
If the subject left the Defence Forces less than thirty years ago:
For officers (i.e. Lieutenants, Captains, Commandants etc.) – write to
OIC Commissioned Officers’ Management Office
D COS (Sp),
DFHQ,
St. Mobhi Road,
Coláiste Caoimhíon,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 9
For enlisted personnel (i.e. Privates, Corporals, Sergeants etc.) – write to
OIC Enlisted Personnel Management Office,
D COS (Sp),
DFHQ,
St. Mobhi Road,
Coláiste Caoimhíon,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 9
If the subject left the Defence Forces more than thirty years ago:
For officers (i.e. Lieutenants, Captains, Commandants etc.) and for enlisted personnel (i.e. privates, corporals, sergeants etc.) – write directly to OIC Military Archives, as per the contact address.
If in doubt as regards the rank or any other details, do not hesitate to contact our duty archivist by telephone.
How do I access pension records from the Army Pensions Board?
Your ancestors who served during the 1916 Rising or during the War of Independence may have made application for a medal or pension in respect of their service during that time. Pensions were awarded under the 1924 and subsequent Pension Acts. Due to data protection requirements, these pension records are currently available to direct next of kin only. Direct next of kin should write to the following address for information in respect of their relatives’ service during 1916 and the War of Independence:
Veterans Administration Section,
Department of Defence,
Renmore,
Galway.
Please provide Veterans Administration Section with as many personal details as possible to include full name (and any variations in spelling), date of birth, the address/s resided at during the period in which they may have made the application (1924 to 1949 most likely) and the name of any next of kin at that time. Please note that there may be a waiting period for receipt of such records given the increase in interest in this area in recent years.
I have lost my grandfather’s 1916/War of Independence medal. How do I get another one issued?
Relatives of those who were awarded a 1916 Medal and/or a War of Independence Medal can now apply for a certificate of service. Unfortunately, it is not possible at this time to reissue original medals. The certificate will be issued to the nearest direct next-of-kin. Please write to the following address for this service:
Veterans Administration Section,
Department of Defence,
Renmore,
Galway.
Please provide Veterans Administration Section with as many of the personal details as possible to include full name (and any variations in spelling), date of birth, the address/s resided at during the period in which they may have made the application (1924 to 1949 most likely) and the name of any next of kin at that time.
Can I access information from the archives by writing in?
Because of the volume of queries we receive, we do not normally have the staffing levels available to conduct individual research for members of the public. Like most similar institutions we make the material available to members of the public in our reading room so that they can carry out the research for themselves. If you wish to conduct detailed research, you should contact the duty archivist in advance for an appointment at 00 353 (0)1 804 6457.
How do I get to Military Archives?
Military Archives is located within Cathal Brugha Barracks, just off Military Road in Rathmines, Dublin 6. On entering the barracks the gate policeman will check your identification and ensure that you are booked in for an appointment at Military Archives. As this is a working barracks, please note that photo identification and routine security checks may be carried out. There are several options for getting to the archives:
By public transport: The no.15 buses operated by Dublin Bus from the railings at Trinity College on Pearse Street pass along Rathmines Road, which intersects with Military Road. The stop nearest St. Mary’s School is the one closest to Cathal Brugha Barracks.
The LUAS green line stop at Charlemont Bridge is about a ten minute walk away from the barracks. Simply get off at this stop, follow the canal to Portobello Bridge and turn left onto Rathmines Road. Then take a right turn onto Military Road by St. Mary’s School until you reach the main gates of the barracks. The stop nearest St. Mary’s School is closest to Cathal Brugha Barracks.
On foot/bicycle: Via the main barracks gate off Military Road (near St. Mary’s School).
By car: Parking is provided within barracks for researchers. Please give advance notice of your vehicle’s security details.
I have material that may be of interest to Military Archives. How do I make a donation?
Military Archives has over 1,000 private collections relating to the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence in the 20th and 21st centuries. Depending on the nature and extent of your material, we very much appreciate any donation, once it is in line with our collecting policy. Photographs (ideally complete with descriptions), diaries, letters and even artefacts are especially welcome. If we are not in a position to take your material, we can advise you as to which institution is best placed to receive it. Given our status as a public service archives, all new material taken as a donation must be available for public research after a specified time period, although certain conditions can be stipulated, in line with the deposit agreement reached with OIC Military Archives.
How do I gain access to the Bureau of Military History collection?
The Bureau of Military history (BMH) collection is available for research here at the archives (see our introduction to the collection on the BMH page) It includes witness statements, which can be isolated for a particular county; contemporary documents (such as pamphlets etc.), some photographs and a small number of voice recordings. Duplicate copies of the witness statements only are held at the National Archives on Bishop Street, Dublin 2 and may also be available through your local archives or library. Staff at Archives are currently working on making the BMH witness statements available on these web pages.
How do I book an appointment, and what facilities are available in the reading room?
Please view the Making an Appointment webpage. Those with special needs should indicate this to the duty archivist when making their appointment to ensure the provision of the best possible service.