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IN THE HEART OF THE HIBERNIAN METROPOLIS (U7.1)
The "Aeolus" episode takes place in the offices of the Freeman's Journal, located on Prince street, just behind the General Post Office (GPO) on Sackville street. We see on this PC, as the legend indicates, Nelson's pillar, the GPO, and the Hotel Metropole; also the statue of Sir John Gray in the foreground. |
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"Before Nelson's pillar trams slowed, shunted, changed trolley, started" (U7.3)
On May 16th 1896, Dublin's first electric trams began running between Haddington Rd and Dalkey. Initially operated by the Dublin Southern District Tramways Company, the line was sold a few months later to the Dublin United Tramways, at that time running about 170 horse cars over 33 route miles. The merger, now renamed Dublin United Tramways Company Ltd. (DUTC, 1896), immediately set about total electrification. This was completed in 4 years. Over the next decade, the Dublin tram system became a world leader, pioneering several developments that were later adopted universally. Nelson's pillar was one of the main tram terminals. |
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The last horse tram ran on the Bath Avenue line in January 1901; by then, the Dublin area had about 66 electric route miles, of which nearly 50 were owned by the DUTC. This 19c. SV shows horse trams on O'Connell Bridge sometime between 1882 (when O'Connell's statue was unveiled) and 1901 (when the horse trams were entirely discontinued). |
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"started for Blackrock," (U7.4) |
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"Kingstown" (7.4) |
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"and Dalkey," (U7.4) |
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"Clonskea, Rathgar and Terenure, Palmerston Park and upper Rathmines, Sandymount Green" (U7.4) |
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"Rathmines, Ringsend and Sandymount Tower, Harold's Cross." (U7.5) |
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"Dublin United Tramway Company" (U7.6) |
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"THE WEARER OF THE CROWN
Under the porch of the general post office shoeblacks called and polished." (U7.14) |
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These are same-era shoeblacks from Tunis. |
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"Under the porch of the general post office shoeblacks called and polished." (U7.15)
Opened in 1818, the GPO on Sackville Street is one of the most important landmarks in the city. Distances from Dublin are measured from the GPO. |
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'Dublin' (SOF, 1907) says of the GPO: "This handsome edifice was erected, from the design of Francis Johnston, at the moderate cost of £50,000. The foundation stone was laid by the Lord-Lieutenant, Charles Earl of Whitworth, on August 12th 1814, and the office opened for the transaction of business on January 6th 1818." Architect Francis Johnston (1760-1829) also designed St George's Church, renovated the Viceregal Lodge, and helped plan the layout of Sackville street. |
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From 'Dublin' (SOF, 1907): "The GPO building, of 3 stories, the lowest rusticated, is of mountain granite. The frontage is 223 feet. The magnificent portico, 80 feet in width, consists of 6 fluted ionic columns, each 4 feet 6 inches in diameter. These support an entablature with a richly carved frieze and a pediment, the tympanum of which bears the Royal Arms. Surmounting the pediment are statues, by John Smyth, of Mercury with the caduceus and purse; Fidelity finger on lip and bearing a key, and in the centre Hibernia with shield and spear. The cornice, 50 feet above ground-level, supports a handsome balustrade. From the court-yard of this building the mail-coaches once spead nightly, north and south, east and west; the English mail leaving at 7am by cart for Howth, whence the steam packets, or, in stress of weather, wherries, took it to Holyhead." This PC shows a popular Dublin joke, at the expense of British 'tourists,' about the statues atop the GPO. |
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In 1916 Padraig Pearse and James Connolly, leaders of the Easter Rising, proclaimed an Irish republic from the steps of the GPO. In the ensuing siege, the republicans sheltered and fought from within the building. A fire broke out, destroying most of the interior, and the GPO remained closed for renovations until 1929. |