The General Post Office, Dublin

The General Post Office (locally referred to as The GPO) ("Ard-Oifig an Phoist" in Irish) in Dublin is the headquarters of the Irish postal service, An Post. Normal post office services are still available in the building. A historic landmark situated in the centre of O'Connell Street, the GPO is one of Ireland's most famous buildings, and was the last of the great Georgian public buildings erected in the capital.

Construction of the purpose built offices began in August 1814, and was completed in January 1818, at a cost of £50,000.

The building was designed by architect Francis Johnston in Greek revival style. The main section was made using Wicklow granite and the portico of Portland stone.

The statues on the roof, by sculptor John Smyth, are of Hibernia, a classical representation in female form of the island of Ireland, with Fidelity to one side and Mercury to the other.

During the 1916 Easter Rising, the GPO was one of three Dublin landmarks to be destroyed in the fighting. The GPO was rebuilt and reopened in 1929.

The 1916 Proclamation is one of the most important documents of modern Irish history. Shortly before mid-day on Easter Monday, Padraig Pearse, standing outside the GPO, read out the Proclamation declaring Ireland a sovereign and independent Republic. Copies were then pasted up on buildings around the city centre.

An Post's copy is one of the few to have survived the turmoil of that Easter Week and the passage of nearly a century. It is now on public display in the An Post Museum.

Opening Times

Opening hours for the Museum are:
Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm.
Saturday 10am to 4pm
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.

Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.

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Ticket Prices

Admission fee for the Museum: €2

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Disabled Facilities

The An Post Museum is wheelchair accessible

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More Information

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