(When Sir 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.

We could, for instance, knowingly distinguish the quick step of the Rifle Brigade from the more measured tread of the Surreys, and even before we were near enough to recognize them by sight, our ears told us who they were.

"[7] 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 journalists, including the pacifist Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, were murdered in the barracks exercise yard on the orders of Royal Irish Rifles officer, Captain Bowen-Colthurst.

Cathal Brugha, a leader in the Anti-Treaty IRA, was shot by the National Army on O'Connell Street during the Battle of Dublin.