Cathal Brugha Barracks

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Cathal Brugha Barracks is an Irish Army barracks in Rathmines, Dublin. A key military base of the Irish Defence Forces, it is the headquarters of the Eastern Command, and houses the Military Archives of the Department of Defence.

[edit] History and name

The barracks was originally constructed between 1810 and 1815, and named Portobello Barracks for the area in it was sited. (When Francis Drake looted the city of Portobelo, Panama, died and was buried at sea in its harbour, many places in England and Ireland were commemoratively named Portobello - including part of Rathmines in 1696. The nearby canal bridge and the area became known as Portobello and thereafter, the barracks.)

Originally designed as a cavalry barracks, it saw some development along these lines, with additional land being purchased, and the addition of a church (1842) and canteen block (1868).

During the 1916 Easter Rising, and the Irish War of Independence, British Troops from the barracks were involved in actions throughout Dublin. During this time, three civilians were shot "without trial" in the barrack guardroom. The Royal Irish Rifles company commander, who ordered the shootings, was later adjudged "insane" at the subsequent inquiry and courtmartial.

On 17 May 1922 Irish troops took possession of the Barracks, and it became the National Army's Headquarters under General Michael Collins.

In 1952 it was renamed for Cathal Brugha, who was a leader during the 1916 rising, Minister for Defence in the First Dáil, and who lived locally for a time.

[edit] Troops

The first troops to occupy the barracks were the 6th Dragoon Guards, with following units including the: Royal Scots Fusiliers, Royal Munster Fusiliers, Durham Light Infantry, Middlesex Regiment, Wiltshire Regiment, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and Royal Irish Rifles.

Since the end of the Anglo-Irish war, the barracks has housed units of the Irish Defence Forces, and has more recently been developed as a result of the the force's reoganisation. It became the Eastern Command HQ (again) in 1994, and in 1997 accommodated additional units after the closure of Collins Barracks.

Cathal Brugha Barracks houses the following units: