Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.anpost.ie
; O'Connell St; 8am-8pm Mon-Sat; all city centre, Abbey)
Not just the country's
main post office, or an eye-catching neoclassical building: the General Post Office is at
the heart of Ireland's struggle for independence as it served as command HQ for the rebels
during the Easter Rising of 1916. As a result, it has become the focal point for all kinds of
protests, parades and remembrances.
The fateful events of 1916 resulted in a week-long bombardment by the British Army
which left Francis Johnston's 1818-masterpiece a smouldering wreck: you can still see
pockmarks and bullet holes in the huge pillars supporting the Ionic portico, which spans
the five central bays and is topped by three statues representing Fidelity, Hibernia and
Mercury. The damage was so bad that it didn't reopen until 1929.
In the spacious and light-filled interior there's a beautiful bronze statue, the
Death of
Cuchulainn
(1935), depicting the legendary hero of Ulster, whose spirit was evoked in the
poetry of Pádraig Pearse. He was an awesome warrior slain at the age of 27 after being
tricked into an unfair fight. Even as he lay dead, nobody dared approach the body for fear
of attack, and it wasn't until ravens landed on him that they were convinced he was dead.
The statue is dedicated to those who died in the Rising. Also inside is a series of commun-
ist noble-worker-style paintings depicting scenes from the Easter Rising. There are also
lots of people going about the everyday business of buying stamps and posting letters.
Finally, among all the flags hanging in here, notice that the Union Jack is hung behind the
counter and out of reach? It had to be moved there because people kept setting it alight.
SPIRE
(O'Connell St; all city centre, Abbey)
The city's most visible landmark soars over
O'Connell St and is an impressive bit of architectural engineering that was erected in
2001: from a base of only 3m in diameter, it soars more than 120m into the sky and tapers
into a 15cm-wide beam of light...it's tall and shiny and it does the trick rather nicely.
The brainchild of London-based architect Ian Ritchie, it is apparently the highest sculp-
ture in the world, but much like the Parisian reaction to the construction of the Eiffel
Tower, Dubliners are divided as to its aesthetic value and have regularly made fun of it.
Among other names, we like 'the erection in the intersection', the 'stiletto in the ghetto',
and the altogether brilliant 'eyeful tower'.
MONUMENT
NATIONAL LEPRECHAUN MUSEUM
MUSEUM
