Dublins general post office is one of dublins key historic attractions and hot topic among the history of the easter rising. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. When an armed group of rebels occupied the general post office in dublin on. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle. The rising was launched by irish republicans to end british rule in ireland and establish an independent irish republic while the united kingdom was fighting the first world war. At the heart of the book are the men and women whose fascinating. The post office in ireland, an illustrated history the. Its not just the countrys main post office, or an eyecatching neoclassical building. This is the first complete history of the irish post office, an institution which has.
The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. Arranged alphabetically by name of post office, these records include the name of each post office and the state in which it was located, dates of establishment and discontinuance of post offices, the names of postmasters, and dates of postmasters appointments. The general post office in ireland was first located in high street in dublin moving to fishamble street in 1689, to sycamore alley in 1709 and then in 1755 to bardins chocolate house on the site where the commercial buildings used to be now the central bank building off dame street. The post office in ireland, an illustrated history. Every visitor to dublin should stop and see the gpo. Throughout, it has remained a working post office probably the longest continuously occupied gpo in the world and a place for people to meet, attend to their business and even sing a few carols.
Roy foster listens to the continuing resonances of the dublin easter rising. Postmasters, originally deputies, ran local postal services as deputies to the postmaster general. Find out more about an post s plan for brexit and maintaining the smooth flow of post and parcels between ireland and the uk. Post office employee records go online who do you think. The six huge pillars in the front of the building make it an imposing structure. It was the main stronghold of the irish volunteers in the 1916 rising, while today the general post office offers. Irish postal history the dublin penny post by f e dixon, published 1969, 16pp, robson lowe reprint with revisions synopsis of irish postal history in the stampless era. The man who made ireland by tim pat coogan, how the irish saved civilization. It was established as a protestant college during the tudor.
The general post office, or gpo, is easily one of the top ten sights of dublin. Post office records may deliver interesting information to the genealogical researcher seeking more information about an ancestor or an ancestors community. General post office, oconnell street lower, dublin 1, d01 f5p2 registered number. Posting books an post an post for postal, retail and. General post office was the only way to keep in touch with each other for years. Normal post office services are still available in the building. The main section of the building was made with wicklow granite and the portico of portland stone. He writes in a breezy, readable style and covers the subject thoroughly. It is believed that it was taken post1916 rising, if you look closely too, the clock on the very far left of the image indicates its 10.
Find out more about an posts plan for brexit and maintaining the smooth flow of post and parcels between ireland and the uk. Appointment records in archive class post 58 start between 17371774 but the main series of appointment books did not start until 1831. Salary journals and receipts of post offices, 18951956 including 2 rolls of microfilm. He in like manner slew sitricus, son of lodar or lotharius earl of the orkney islands, and chief commander of the insular danes, by dividing him into two equal parts through his coat of brass from his head to his rump with a. Interestingly it has also become a symbol of the failed easter rising that took place in 1916 in. It wasnt until the 16th century that an organised postal system emerged in ireland, with regular posts set up from dublin to a few major towns in ireland. The gpo served as command hq for the rebels during the 1916 easter rising and as a result has become the focal point for all kinds of protests, parades and remembrances, as well. The general post office, dublin tourist information dublin. The history of ireland has long been at the epicentre of political and academic debate. T he title of rf fosters terrific new book comes from the opening lines of wb yeatss easter, 1916, a poem that ambivalently celebrates the rebels who seized the general post office in dublin. Early that afternoon, from the steps of the post office, patrick pearse 18791916, one of the uprisings leaders, read a proclamation declaring ireland an. Dublin general post office dublin, ireland atlas obscura. They show the point when a person began working for the post office or started at a new position within the post office. The general post office gpo is remarkable not just for the special place it holds in irish history and for its handsome architecture but for the fact that after two centuries it continues successfully to fulfil its original purpose as the headquarters of the irish post office.
Dublins general post office a most distinguished postal headquarters. Records of the post office department pod national. Illustrated with an intriguing collection of photographs, paintings and documents this will be a beautiful as well as fascinating book. The general post office was restored after the uprising, and reopened in 1929. Transporting readers to the ireland of the past, beginning with the first settlement in a. In the centre of the front is a boldly projecting portico of six fluted ionic columns supporting an entablature and cornice, which are continued round the building and surmounted by a triangular pediment, in the tympanum of which are the. The siege of the gpo profiles in history 9780674036338. This book unravels the events in and around the gpo during the easter. The general post office dublin ireland reaching out. Being situated in the oconnell street, it is a wonderful example of georgian architecture. The story of ireland reexamines irish history, challenging the accepted stories and longheld myths associated with ireland. Griffiths valuation revision books, cancelled books and.
General post office dublin, ireland attractions lonely. The general post office and other parts of dublin were seized. What is the easter rising and why is it so controversial. Irish postal history sixteenth century to 1935 by c j cooke, 1935 irish postal rates before 1840. Inaugurated almost two hundred years ago, the general post office gpo in dublin has a lengthy history that includes a strong connection with irelands struggle for independence.
Winner of the micheletti award at the 2017 european museum academy awards, gpo witness history is a historical mustsee when in dublin. A history of the irish post office by mairead reynolds. An post plays a central role in irish life and society, offering a wide range of services from the provision of pensions to parcel collection. Get offline map and directions using our gpsmycity selfguided walking tours app for your mobile device. The general post office in dublin on oconnell street is the headquarters of the irish postal service and a bustling hub of activity, but every easter. The historic post office is actually hard to miss because it. Page 174 damsh officers of distinction, among whom were carrol and anrud, the two sons of the king of norway, as also conmaol another famous commander.
Sinn fein, the gpo and the 1916 rising irishcentral. The general post office in dublin was designed by francis johnston, an architect with the board of works, in the greek revival style. Interest in irish culture, politics, and society, both ancient and. They have been digitised and are now available, free to view, on the revision books section of pronis website the collection is available as a fully searchable placename index to the valuation revision books covering counties antrim, armagh, down. The general post office looks exceptionally grand in this image. Goods modesty makes him a terrific witness to history and his droll tone make this an. Armed protest continued after the easter rebellion and in 1921, 26 of irelands 32 counties won independence with the declaration of the. About british postal service appointment books, 17371969 these postal museum appointment books are indexes to the postmaster generals minute books.
An post is a designated activity company registered office. Occupied by british, it has witnessed lots of historical events. General post office in dublin, ireland sight map, attraction information, photo and list of walking tours containing this attraction. The general post office, dublin the general post office locally referred to as the gpo ardoifig an phoist in irish in dublin is the headquarters of the irish postal service, an post. Not only does the massive classical building dominate dublins main thoroughfare, it also is the iconic symbol of irelands failed 1916 easter rising. In early 17th century the post office expanded its services. Dublins general post office, the gpo, witnessed some of the fiercest fighting of the 1916. The gpo or general post office of dublin is an interesting sight to see. Postmasters general of the irish post office, 17841830. It is the administrative centre of an post, the irish post office, and one of the citys architectural highlights. The manuscript revision books for northern ireland are held by the public records office of northern ireland in belfast. Microfilmed records include postmaster appointment records and records showing the location of post offices. The general postoffice, situated in sackvillestreet, is a very fine building of granite, 223 feet in length, 150 feet in depth, and three stories high.
From 1787 it was issued as part of the treble almanack. Home rule dramatically inflamed, however, by the easter rising. Members of the irish air corps perform a flypast over the general post office gpo, the scene of the 1916 easter rising, in dublin during a programme of commemorative events to mark the 100th. Sited in the centre of oconnell street, the citys main thoroughfare, it is one of irelands most famous buildings, and was the last of the great georgian public buildings erected in the capital. Find out about the history of the post office in ireland, read about the gpo and the 1916 rising and learn about historical irish stamps. If you are looking for a comprehensive, singlevolume survey of irish history, i can recommend thomas bartletts ireland.
Before 1840, the gpo served state itself and mainly wealthy people. Trinity college is another important dublin landmark. Pettigrew and oultons dublin almanac and general register of ireland. Gpo witness history visitor centre free entry with the. The general post office or gpo in oconnell street is one of the top ten. Ireland stamps and ireland postal history stamp domain. They give name, grade, place of work and date of appointment. Accounts, ledgers, and journals of the general post office, 17751803. The jew at the centre of irish nationalism the jewish. Ardoifig an phoist in dublin is the headquarters of the irish post office, an post, and dublins principal post office.