Step into a pivotal moment of dublin s history at the gpo witness history exhibition. This landmark is the headquarters of an post irish post, and there are rows of wooden counters for addressing and stamping mail, plus giant letterboxes for dublin and non dublin pieces. Courage boys, we are winning an illustrated history of the 1916 rising by michael barry. The gpo is an posts largest post office and is situated right in the heart of dublin city on oconnell street. The vast houses on this cobblestone street have run the gamut from georgian grandeur to tenement squalor within the three hundred years of their existence. Gpo rebel heart a comingofage drama set against the backdrop of the irish. In the neoclassical style typical of the georgian period, it features a wide portico or porch supported by six columns, deriving from classical greek and roman architecture. For gpo specific covid19 resources, please visit our page. To make a city truly your own, you need to create spaces for yourself within it. Similar general post offices were established across the british empire. Ardoifig an phoist in dublin is the headquarters of an post, the irish post office, and dublin s principal post office. This book unravels the events in and around the gpo during the easter.
Gpo dublin hotels near gpo the spencer hotel dublin. The general post office in 1916 in 1916, one of the most important events in irish history happened when the gpo became the headquarters for the easter rising. Gpo witness history oconnell street, dublin 1, ireland, dublin, ireland 1 rated 4. Book your tickets online for our rebels rising tour. All existing accounts of the gpo in 1916 concentrate on the volunteers who. Explore the historic gpo in dublin city centre today by purchasing tickets for the gpo online here. 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. Gpo witness history is a brand new permanent visitor attraction in the iconic gpo building on oconnell street, dublin. Dublin has undergone a complete metamorphosis since the 1980s and has truly been reborn with a new tram system and some very exciting development in the former derelict docks area. On easter monday 1916, while much of dublin holidayed at the seaside and placed bets at the horse races, a disciplined group of irish volunteers seized the citys general post office in what would become the defining act of rebellion against british ruleand the most significant single event in modern irish history. The general post office, or gpo, is easily one of the top ten sights of dublin.
It is a moving and important site to visit while in ireland. Gpo tickets, things to do in dublin city gpo witness. 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. In 2017, the american printing history association honored gpo with its institutional award, recognizing a distinguished contribution to study, recording, preservation or dissemination of printing history. Dublins general post office is one of irelands most iconic buildings with its pivotal role in the 1916 rising. The gpo witness history is the perfect family day out. While not neglecting the rebels, this book tells their story too, using hitherto. On easter monday 1916, while much of dublin holidayed at the seaside and placed bets at the horse races, a disciplined group of irish volunteers seized the citys general post office in what would become the defining act of rebellion against british rule and the most significant single event in modern irish history. Rankandfile members of 1916 gpo garrison documented in labour of love. A decade of research has culminated in an extremely useful compendium to the history of early twentiethcentury ireland. Much of dublin 1916 is devoted to the iconic significance of the easter rising for the succeeding generations.
Combine your hop on hop off tour with a visit to gpo witness history, and learn all about the famous easter rising of 1916 within one of dublins most iconic. The museum was closed at the end of may 2015 and replaced by a new visitor centre to commemorate the 1916 rising, gpo witness history, in march 2016. The general post office gpo is the headquarters of the irish postal service and is one of irelands most famous buildings. History will come to life as you experience events from both sides of the. Located in the heart of dublin city, on oconnell street you cant miss the g. The latest general information on the coronavirus disease 2019 covid19 is available on coronavirus. Experience irish history at the gpo witness history centre. The award citation honors gpos services in advancing the understanding of the history of printing and its allied arts. On a cold winter night in dublin, down the mewslined waterloo lane in the south city centre, lies one such pocket of space. Check out the best tours and activities to experience gpo witness history visitor centre. Step into a pivotal moment of dublins history at the gpo witness history exhibition. However, there is a lot to this unique city that remains unknown to many as well as many fun facts about dublin. Gpo the irish story irish history articles, irish history. By weeks end, the rebels had surrendered, and the siege had left.
It was famously used as a headquarters by the leaders of the 1916 easter rising, as evidenced by the bullet holes still visible in its grand facade. This highly immersive and engaging exhibition puts you right inside the gpo during easter week in 1916. This landmark is the headquarters of an post irish post, and there are rows of wooden counters for addressing and stamping mail, plus giant letterboxes. Inside the gpo player for nearly 200 years, the general post office on oconnell street has stood at the heart of dublin. Gpo museum museums dublin things to do in dublin dublin. The easter rising of 1916 is a foundational moment of modern irish history, though not as some would have it the foundational moment. In the end it seems the burning gpo fires off more rounds of text than bullets. Experience irish history in our awardwinning, immersive museum and visitor centre, based in the iconic gpo in the heart of dublin. But the rebels finally surrendered the gpo to the crown forces after heavy gun bombardment and the ensuing conflagration reduced the building to an empty shell and. Sited in the centre of oconnell street, the citys main thoroughfare, it is one of irelands most famous buildings, not least because it served as the headquarters of the leaders of the easter rising. Here are ten fun and interesting facts about dublin that you never knew.
Award winning gpo witness history is located in the historical gpo general post office building on oconnell street in the heart of dublin. It was the last of the great georgian public buildings erected in the capital and during the easter rising of 1916, the gpo served as the headquarters of the uprisings leaders. He wrote his journal in 1946 for his son maurice, who has now edited it for publication. Dont miss out on great deals for things to do on your trip to dublin. The general post office in dublin was designed by francis johnston, an architect with the board of works, in the greek revival style. The post office itself sits right at the heart of the busy oconnell street, just a couple of blocks north of the river liffey and the oconnell bridge. Headquarters and focus of the 1916 rising, dublins general post office is the most famous building in ireland.
Join us in the gpo museum for a special guided tour celebrating the role of women in shaping. There is tons of stuff you wont find in any history book such as the funny and personable side of michael collins as well as the slow pace the fight took. Children from gardiner street primary school got a fantastic history lesson when they helped launch a new exhibition at gpo witness history. The general post office is the headquarters of an post and hold significance importance in irish history. This book unravels the events in and around the gpo during the. It is a beautiful old building that played a big part in irelands colourful history.
Discover the best sights all around dublin with dodublins awardwinning dublin city sightseeing hop on hop off tour 48 hour ticket, and get hands on with irish history at gpo witness history, an immersive, interactive and engaging experience telling the story of the 1916 easter rising and its pivotal role in shaping modern irish history. Reserve your spot today and pay when youre ready for thousands of tours on viator. Gpo witness history is a new visitor attraction located in the historical and iconic gpo building on oconnell street, dublin. The siege of the gpo by clair willsroy foster listens to the continuing resonances of the dublin easter rising. The liffey is the main river running through the city, traditionally splitting it into the north and the southside evidence of civilisation dates back to 750bc with the celts then arriving around 700bc. The gpo was designed by the irish architect francis johnson, part of a group of architects responsible for sackville street now oconnell street. There is free audio guides available in six different languages, subject to availability or alternatively there are daily. There is tons of stuff you wont find in any history book such as the funny and personable. The siege of the gpo profiles in history 9780674036338. Find out more about irish post office history in the post office in ireland an illustrated history, available to purchase online. No street in dublin illuminates the history of the city quite like henrietta street.
Gpo witness history gpo museum museums dublin things to. The general post office gpo was officially established in england in 1660 by charles ii and it eventually grew to combine the functions of state postal system and telecommunications carrier. Its a beautiful and iconic part of dublin city and. Visit the award winning immersive visitor centre of the 1916 easter rising at gpo. This book tells the story of the events in and around the gpo in easter week, drawing on diaries, newspaper reports, eyewitness statements, and participant accounts, many of which have lain unread since their collection in the 1930s. The gpo museum is a permanent visitor attraction located within the historic gpo general post office building on oconnell street, dublin. Much as the alamo does for texas, the neoclassical general post office in dublin serves today as a symbol of a peoples struggle for independence. Gpo tickets, things to do in dublin city gpo witness history centre. This hugely significant event in irish history led eventually to the creation of the irish republic. Our guides will bring you on an emotional journey that brings the personalities behind the tales to life, sharing the stories of all the people who were affected by the rising rebels, crown forces, postal workers and civilians alike. Rankandfile members of 1916 gpo garrison documented in. The building has remained a symbol of irish nationalism. The politics of commemoration, reenactment and remembrance just go on rolling. Battleground the battle for the general post office, 1916.
The 10 best gpo witness history visitor centre tours. Battleground the battle for the general post office. The gpo was the communications hub of ireland and headquarters of the men and women who took part in the 1916 easter rising. Irish history online, irish history articles, interviews, ebooks and podcasts. The exterior of the post office is iconic, where during the easter rising served as the headquarters of the risings leaders. Taken over by irish volunteers on easter monday 1916, it was held for nearly a week. Have you heard about the easter rising that occurred in ireland in 1916. Gpo witness history is centrally located on oconnell street in dublin city centre and it is directly beside luas and bus stops and is also located beside hop on hop off bus stops.
Not only does the massive classical building dominate dublins main thoroughfare, it also is the iconic symbol of irelands failed 1916 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. At that time, ireland and britain were a united kingdom but many irish people believed ireland should be in control of its own affairs and a few were prepared to fight for irish independence. Gpo general post office oconnell street dublintown. Sep 11, 2019 the gpo is still a working post office but is also the site of the gpo witness history museum. The gpo museum is an immersive, interactive and engaging experience telling the story of the 1916 easter rising and modern irish history. The main section of the building was made with wicklow granite and the portico of portland stone. Read my new post today about the pivotal site in this battle, the gpo witness history museum in dublin. Experience the citys famous general post office during the easter rising of 1916 as you relive the events through interactive displays and authentic relics of the time. On easter monday 1916, while much of dublin holidayed at the seaside and placed. Museums in dublin gpo witness history museums dublin. Its a beautiful and iconic part of dublin city and has seen a lot of action down through the years. A locals guide to dublin, ireland the washington post. Patricia curtin kelly very few contemporary artists depicted events that occurred around.
Visit gpo witness history and see the past come to life. The gpo is located on oconnell street in dublins georgian quarter. It was the main stronghold of the irish volunteers in the 1916. Dublin is the capital of the republic of ireland and sits on the eastern coast, on the irish sea, which separates ireland from great britain.