The GPO

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    • February 3, 2004 at 2:45 pm #706797
      GrahamH
      Participant

      I was passing today and must have made the biggest double-take of all time – who’s gone and nicked the Royal Coat of Arms from the pediment?!!!

      I cannot believe I never noticed this before, I’m so used to seeing it in old pictures that I just always assumed it was there!
      In its place are just smooth blocks of Portland stone. Was it removed in the reconstruction of 1924-29, or later?
      Suppose it would have been just a little unsuitable to keep it given the history of the building, but today would be rather charmingly typical of Dublin to have such an incongruous feature on one of its landmark building.

      Does anyone know where it is now, or is it even in existence?

    • February 3, 2004 at 3:19 pm #740463
      Paul Clerkin
      Keymaster

      It was taken away last year and is now in a theme pub dedicated to the gay fallen of 1916 in Toxteth – The Padraig Pearse 😉

    • February 3, 2004 at 3:26 pm #740464
      Anonymous
      Participant

      I think I will check the records on the OPW surplus goods sales on that one

      I think that the recent An Taisce v Gorbooth case on the Lissadell House fittings is exremely relevent.

      The death by a 1000 cuts

    • February 9, 2004 at 9:18 pm #740465
      GrahamH
      Participant

      Just another question.
      Why were the entrances to the Cash Office underneath the portico blocked up again in the reconstruction of the 20s?
      For some reason in 1870, these entrances were blocked up, and access to the building was through the now also blocked up central doorways on either side.
      But in the refurbishments just prior to 1916, including the building of a new public office, the OPW made a deliberate point of reopening the entrances beneath the portico. ]
      Suffice to say, the place was completely destroyed 6 weeks later, after years of rebuilding etc.

      Why were the entrances blocked up again in the 1925-29 reconstruction? The new brass windows inserted in their place were completely unsuitable, and look rather tacky today.
      And why were the original secondary doorways in the centre of each ‘wing’ of the building blocked up? You can still see where the new granite was inserted.

      These entrances should be reinstated, as without these focal points the wings are quite bland, with just a repetition of the five same bays.

      Also, the entrances underneath the portico should also be put back in; give it back its purpose and some dignity.
      With the widening of the pavement to way beyond the columns, there’s no reason why this shouldn’t be done.
      It would be wonderful to walk from the plaza through the columns, through the arched entrances and into the public office.
      (Ok, jumping over a couple of traffic lanes in the process!)

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