GPO
The General Post Office on O'Connell Street, Dublin 1
Copyright LensmanGPO
Copyright Lensman
Copyright Lensman
GPO
The General Post Office on O'Connell Street, Dublin 1
Copyright LensmanThe GPO is short for the General Post Office. It is the headquarters of the Irish postal service, An Post. It was built in 1814 on the northside of the city on Sackville Street (now O'Connell Street). It was finally completed four years later in 1818 at a total cost of £50,000.
The GPO was designed by Francis Johnston and was one of the last Georgian public buildings to be built in the city. Originally, the building was faced by Nelson's Column which was blown up in the 1960s. It now faces the Dublin Spire.
General Post Office
Colour postcard of General Post Office & Nelson's Pillar, O'Connell Street
Reproduced by kind permission of Linen Hall Library Postcard ArchiveGeneral Post Office
Reproduced by kind permission of Linen Hall Library Postcard Archive
Reproduced by kind permission of Linen Hall Library Postcard Archive
General Post Office
Colour postcard of General Post Office & Nelson's Pillar, O'Connell Street
Reproduced by kind permission of Linen Hall Library Postcard ArchiveThe GPO is a very strong symbol of the Easter Rising in 1916. Members of the Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army seized the building on Easter Monday. The Proclamation of the Irish Republic was read by Patrick Pearse from the steps of the GPO. The bullet marks from this battle can still be seen in the front pillars today.
The GPO was destroyed during the fighting that took place that week. So much so, that they thought about moving the GPO to a new site. After much deliberation, they settled on rebuilding and extending the original structure. It was officially reopened in 1929.
Inside the building is a sculpture of the legendary Irish warrior Cúchulainn, dedicated to those who died for their role in the Easter Rising.