General Post Office

The General Post Office, is the registered office of the Dublin Postal Bank. Since its inception, it has been the central headquarters for the Irish National Post (named An Post), which is responsible for delivering Dublin parcels and mail to the rest of the country . More than a simple post office, this neo-classical building is above all a strong historical symbol of the capital… Impossible to miss it, you will find it not far from Speyer on Dublin’s largest avenue: O’Connell Street.

History of General Post Office of Dublin

1814 : Work begins…

The General Post Office was built on O’Connell Street in 1814 by architect Francis Johnston.

It took 3 years to complete its construction, and the result seems to be up to the architect’s expectations.

The building is very imposing with its columns and neo-classical pediment, and was built in a Georgian style dear to the city.

In 1817, the building was declared completed: the Irish Post Office could now leave its former premises on Dame Street and finally move to the main artery of Dublin: O’Connell Street.

1916 : The Central Post Office becomes a strategic location for the Easter Rising.

1916: at that time, the Central Post Office of Dublin is one of the nerve centres of the city: a good number of letters have been delivered there for many, many years.

At that time, Ireland and Dublin were living in an extremely tense political context, where Irish and British hardly coexisted on the same territory. Faced with this situation, which has lasted for centuries, the Irish government decided to launch a gigantic revolt with the Irish Republican Brotherhood, scheduled for Easter.

A strategic plan was then developed to seize the main buildings of the city. The Central Post Office of Dublin was a natural part of this plan, and it was therefore on 24 April 1916 that the Irish Volunteer Force and the Irish Citizen Army took control of the Central Post Office.

Nevertheless, the Easter Uprising was defeated a few days later by the British: it was then the defeat for the Irish…

During this revolt, the Central Post Office is somewhat damaged. It will be restored only a few years later, during the official creation of a Free State of Ireland.

As a sign of commemoration of this event, a statue of Cúchulainn, a major hero of the country was erected in front of the Central Post Office (it still remains there today.).

Visiter the General Post Office

Free access for everyone!

Nowadays, the Dublinoise Post Office is still in business. You will be able to freely enter its hall, discover its numerous counters, and possibly post a few postcards to your loved ones!

To post your letters, nothing could be simpler: letter boxes are available at the entrance of the Post Office, as well as inside. All you have to do is slide your mail into the slot corresponding to the desired destination!

For larger parcels, it is best to go directly to a counter. They offer pre-packaging for a fee and will take care of your parcel immediately. This is exactly the same as in France or elsewhere!

So much more to discover...