General Post Office, Dublin

At the heart of O'Connell Street stands the General Post Office (GPO). Constructed between 1815 and 1818, it's one of the final grand structures from Dublin's Georgian era. Its majestic Ionic portico, marked by bullet holes, features six fluted columns and striking sculptures by Edward Smyth: Mercury, clutching a Caduceus and a purse; Fidelity, with a finger to her lips and a key in hand; and Hibernia, wielding a spear and cradling a harp.
It was here, in 1916, that James Connolly and Padraig Pearse barricaded themselves inside and proclaimed the Irish Republic (Pearse's words can be read on a plaque inside). The building was virtually destroyed in the fighting but has since been restored. The Rising is commemorated in the main hall by a beautiful bronze statue of the mythic folk hero Cúchulainn and by ten paintings illustrating various scenes of the rebellion.

There is also the GPO Museum Witness History; an interactive visitor centre which documents the 1916 Easter Rising and modern Irish history, complemented by an extensive stamp collection.

Tip:
Don't miss the modern gift shop, stocked with an array of high-quality Irish merchandise!