1926 – General Post Office Reconstruction, O’Connell Street, Dublin

Reconstruction of the General Post Office after destruction during Easter 1916. A large range was added to the Henry Street side providing office and commercial space at street level. With four storeys and a mansard floor, the design was largely completed as illustrated except for the mansard roof not being continued over the first two bays of the original building at the corner of Henry and O’Connell Streets. Of note, the Royal Coat-of-arms of the United Kingdom is still illustrated in the pediment of the original building. Reconstruction and debate about reconstruction took some years.

“We understand that it has been practically decided that the General Post Office will be rebuilt, the present structure including the portico, being entirely removed. The facades facing Henry St. and Prince’s St, will also be demolished. Considerable additional ground at the back has been acquired for extension, and the new building will be at least five storeys in height. The general plans of the new buildings will be prepared the Office of Public Works, under the direction of Postal Authorities, and it is the desire of the Postmaster General that if possible, the new exterior shall have Irish character in design, as distinct from the Anglo Irish phase to which the majority of the public of Dublin of that period belong. It is probably that architectural competition will be organised to secure designs for the facades.”
The Irish Builder, April 8, 1922

The Post Office it would seem as we have said is to go. We can survive the loss. It was a noble building of its sort, but it was not the Custom House. To lose the Custom House would be an irreparable misfortune to Ireland.
The Irish Builder, May 20, 1922

The Irish Independent states that plans for the new GPO are being prepared, but some important decisions have yet to be made. It continues — “It has been strongly advocated that the building should be erected on the Custom House site. but against that it is argued that the old GPO site is not only more central. but it is much more extensive. and a large sum, stated to be about 80,000 has been spent in acquiring a big extension to the old site. There is, however, hardly any reason to doubt that the new GPO will rise on the ruins of the principal stronghold of the 1916 insurrection. There also appears to be some difference of opinion as to whether the old façade, which is in very good condition should be preserved in the new structure. There is a strong volume of opinion in favour of having an entirely new design, which will introduce as far as possible the main features of old Celtic architecture.”
The Irish Builder, October 21, 1922

“The main facade to O’Connell Street, including the portico, and as far as the pavilion ends on each side is being retained out of the original building, and the drawing shows these features together with new shopping centre to Henry-street, with Post Office Departments overhead, which is entirely new. Mr. T.J. Byrne, A.R.I.B.A., chief architect to the Office of Public Works, is in complete charge of the scheme as far as the Government is concerned, all working drawings and the supervision of the work erected or in course of erection being under Mr. P. J. Munden, M.R.I.A.I., L.R.I.B.A., who is acting ae architect for the lessees.”
The Builder, February 26 1926.