Transport

Author of the Transport Article

Bernard Share, Author of the Transport Feature

Bernard Share contributed the material on inland transport to the new Encyclopaedia of Ireland and is consultant to the Heritage Office of Iarnród Éireann. He is a former editor of Cara, the in-flight magazine of Aer Lingus and was founder editor of Books Ireland. His books include Slanguage - A Dictionary of Slang & Colloquial English in Ireland, which is in its second edition; A History of Aer Lingus; Shannon Departures-A Study of Regional Initiatives; and, The Emergency-A Social History of Ireland in World War II. He has also written three novels and books for children. He has lectured in English in Australia and written and broadcast programmes for RTÉ and ABC, Sydney. He lives in Co. Kildare.

Bernard Share, Author of the Transport Feature

Bernard Share contributed the material on inland transport to the new Encyclopaedia of Ireland and is consultant to the Heritage Office of Iarnród Éireann. He is a former editor of Cara, the in-flight magazine of Aer Lingus and was founder editor of Books Ireland. His books include Slanguage - A Dictionary of Slang & Colloquial English in Ireland, which is in its second edition; A History of Aer Lingus; Shannon Departures-A Study of Regional Initiatives; and, The Emergency-A Social History of Ireland in World War II. He has also written three novels and books for children. He has lectured in English in Australia and written and broadcast programmes for RTÉ and ABC, Sydney. He lives in Co. Kildare.

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Bernard Share contributed the material on inland transport to the new Encyclopaedia of Ireland and is consultant to the Heritage Office of Iarnród Éireann. He is a former editor of Cara, the in-flight magazine of Aer Lingus and was founder editor of Books Ireland. His books include Slanguage - A Dictionary of Slang & Colloquial English in Ireland, which is in its second edition; A History of Aer Lingus; Shannon Departures-A Study of Regional Initiatives; and, The Emergency-A Social History of Ireland in World War II. He has also written three novels and books for children. He has lectured in English in Australia and written and broadcast programmes for RTÉ and ABC, Sydney. He lives in Co. Kildare.

Introduction

The development of public transport in Ireland dates from the aftermath of the Williamite wars of the 1690s when a period of political and social stability witnessed the growth of economic activity, and, with it, the development of transport both public and private. People began to move around much more and by the 1770s there were 183 four-wheeled and 115 two wheeled carriages in Limerick compared with a total of four of any description 40 years previously. This increased mobility was facilitated by a greatly improved road-system. Turnpikes on the British model were introduced on the more important routes from 1729. There followed the steady development of a stage-coach network which, by the end of the 18th century, linked most important towns with the capital.

The New Post Office

Approximately thirty years after the separate post office was established in Ireland from the Royal mail, the General Post Office or the New Post Office was built in 1814. The post office was originally situated on the north side of Dame Street. However, it has changed location due to a lack of space onto College Greene, and then on again to the west side of Sackville Street (now O'Connell Street). The building itself was designed by the famous architect, Francis Johnston. It is mainly made of granite, and is 233 feet wide, 150 feet in depth, and fifty feet high to the top of the cornice. The building was designed in an ionic classical style with its columns and Portland stone portico. The three statues in the pediment were sculpted by Edward Smith a famous sculptor of the time who also worked on the Custom House. The statues represent Hibernia, Mercury and Fidelity. The image is taken from the book the History of Dublin, by Warburton, Whitelaw & walsh, 1818.

The New Post Office

Approximately thirty years after the separate post office was established in Ireland from the Royal mail, the General Post Office or the New Post Office was built in 1814. The post office was originally situated on the north side of Dame Street. However, it has changed location due to a lack of space onto College Greene, and then on again to the west side of Sackville Street (now O'Connell Street). The building itself was designed by the famous architect, Francis Johnston. It is mainly made of granite, and is 233 feet wide, 150 feet in depth, and fifty feet high to the top of the cornice. The building was designed in an ionic classical style with its columns and Portland stone portico. The three statues in the pediment were sculpted by Edward Smith a famous sculptor of the time who also worked on the Custom House. The statues represent Hibernia, Mercury and Fidelity. The image is taken from the book the History of Dublin, by Warburton, Whitelaw & walsh, 1818.

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In the early years of the 19th century the journey from Dublin to Limerick occupied 21 hours, that to Cork 31. There were, however, express or 'flying' coaches such as that which in the 1750s was covering the distance between Dublin and Kilkenny in one day. At this time mails were still carried on horseback by postboys. In 1784 a separate Irish Post Office was established, followed in 1789 by the introduction of mail coach services. Even after the introduction of the mail coaches journeys remained both expensive and unpredictable: on the many routes not served by them the traveller was at the mercy of local post-chaise proprietors and their frequently dirty and dangerous vehicles.

Transport in the cities, in Dublin in particular, had developed in tandem with the national network. The capital city provided supported a service of hackney-coaches on the English model: in 1703, when they were first officially regulated, their number was limited to 150 and the horses which drew them were required to be 14 hands and a half in size. There were also, however, one- horse vehicles, peculiar to the city, known as 'Ringsend Cars', operating between the centre and what was then a popular sea-bathing resort. Though most well-to-do families maintained their own, there was also a public service of sedan chairs: 400 were licensed in Dublin in 1771 as against 300 carriages and they were still plying for hire in the 1830s. A similar service operated in Belfast, Cork and Waterford.