General Post Office (GPO)

Frommer's Review

Don't be fooled by the nondescript name: With a facade of Ionic columns and Greco-Roman pilasters 60m long (197 ft.) and 17m high (56 ft.), this is more than a post office -- it is the symbol of Irish freedom. Built between 1815 and 1818, it was the main stronghold of the Irish Volunteers during the Easter Uprising. On Easter Sunday, 1916, Patrick Pearse stood on its steps and read a proclamation declaring a free Irish Republic, which began, "In every generation the Irish people have asserted their right to national freedom and sovereignty." Then he and an army of supporters barricaded themselves inside the post office. A siege ensued that ultimately involved much of the north of the city, and before it was over, the building was all but destroyed. It had barely been restored before the Civil War broke out in 1922 and it was heavily damaged again. After that, it remained closed until 1929. You can put your fingers into the bullet holes that riddle its columns, lingering reminders of the Irish struggle. To this day, its steps are a rallying point for demonstrations and protests. In the vast, somber interior, a series of paintings tell the tale of the Easter Uprising. An impressive bronze statue of Cúchulainn, the legendary knight of the Red Branch who is used as a symbol by both Loyalist and Republican paramilitary groups, stands proudly amid it all.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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