GPO Museum

GPO Museum The award winning GPO Museum tells the story of the 1916 Easter Rising and modern Irish history.
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GPO Museum is an engaging, interactive visitor attraction bringing history to life through technology, video, sound and authentic artefacts - many previously unseen.

in 1975, Éamon de Valera died.De Valera's life and career in Irish politics shaped the country throughout the twentiet...
29/08/2026

in 1975, Éamon de Valera died.

De Valera's life and career in Irish politics shaped the country throughout the twentieth century. His involvement in the 1916 Rising turned the page on his career in academic mathematics, as had been his initial pursuit, and facilitated his rise to become the dominant political personality in Ireland for much of the early twentieth century. By the time he became President of Ireland (after already serving for more than 20 collective years as head of government) he was the world's oldest serving head of state.

Much of his life and legacy continues to be hotly debated today, most notably his attitudes toward the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty, role in the Irish Civil War that followed, and personal involvement in the social aspects of the 1937 Constitution - particularly the place of women in society. Other aspects went on to form core tenets of Irish political identity, such as military neutrality.

What is undeniable, however, is that de Valera's legacy continues to be visible in modern Ireland. To learn more, visit our museum.

Heard enough about the 1916 Rising?There's more to it than Easter Week. GPO Museum offers Specialised Tours that delve i...
26/08/2026

Heard enough about the 1916 Rising?

There's more to it than Easter Week. GPO Museum offers Specialised Tours that delve into particular events, individuals, or other topics in modern Irish history to groups of 10 or more. Many of these tours are ideal for historical societies, active retired groups, schools, third-level courses, tour operators, or any group of people looking to brush up on their history on a day out!

Please note that all specialised tours last approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. Booking is essential and tours are subject to availability. Various group rates apply, and enquiries can be made via the enquiry form on each tour’s page at https://www.gpomuseum.ie/specialised-tours/ or by contacting reservations at +353 (0) 1 872 1916

Image of Constance Markievicz (beside chair): George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division (LC-DIG-ggbain-30185)
Image of Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington (and son): George Grantham Bain Collection Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division (LC-DIG-ggbain-23442)
All other Images reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland

On we should be more conscious of being kind to one another and of putting others before ourselves. That is exactly w...
19/08/2026

On we should be more conscious of being kind to one another and of putting others before ourselves.

That is exactly what Nevil Shute Norway and Jack Lowe Woods did during Easter Week 1916. Aged just 17 years old, Nevil and Jack both attended Shrewsbury High School and were good friends. Nevil’s father was the Secretary of the General Post Office here in Dublin, so when the would-be rebels seized the building in an act which marked the beginning of the 1916 Rising, he was among the first to hear about it!

As the week went on, and the scale of the violence increased dramatically, Nevil and Jack took it upon themselves to volunteer with the British Red Cross Society, which already had a hospital set up in Dublin Castle to treat casualties from the First World War.

Pictured above is a copy of the school’s publication, for which Jack Woods wrote an account of his and Nevil’s activities during Easter Week 1916.

Not every humanitarian act needs to be on a scale as grand, or involve as much danger, as those of Nevil Shute Norway and Jack Lowe Woods, even the smallest gesture of kindness can go a long way.

#1916

in 1882, the O'Connell Monument on what is now O'Connell Street was unveiled.Starting with the centenary of O’Connell’...
16/08/2026

in 1882, the O'Connell Monument on what is now O'Connell Street was unveiled.

Starting with the centenary of O’Connell’s birth in 1875, the Dublin Corporation started a project to create a statue honouring the Liberator. The statue stands on a base of Dalkey granite. The very top sees Daniel O’Connell himself, underneath are figures representing Ireland, people of various occupations, and victories (some of which have damage from the Revolutionary Period).

As can be seen on the image, the victories were installed later. The monument stands between O’Connell bridge, and the entry to O’Connell street. The bridge itself was widened and renamed from Carlisle bridge. Today it is one of the most prominent statues in the city, and serves as a place to meet up, or simply to sit down. It was unveiled this week in 1882.

Image courtesy of the National Library of Ireland.

in 1922, Arthur Griffith died.Son of a printer, Griffith's connection to Irish history and Irish nationalism began fro...
12/08/2026

in 1922, Arthur Griffith died.

Son of a printer, Griffith's connection to Irish history and Irish nationalism began from an early age. He would often spend much of his time in the National Library of Ireland reading. As he grew up, he became involved in journalism and ran several newspapers throughout his career. He maintained a strong interest in international affairs and any possible implications for Ireland, and would regularly attend international gatherings of nationalists from other colonial nations.

Following the 1916 Rising and the rebuilding of Griffith's Sinn Féin party in the republican image, he stood aside as president and allowed Éamon de Valera to assume that position. Griffith nevertheless maintained a leading role and would serve as acting President while de Valera toured the United States of America (USA) throughout 1919 and 1920.

Griffith was involved in initial peace negotiations between Sinn Féin and the British government in the summer of 1921, and led the delegation that negotiated and signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December of 1921.

With the split in the republican movement, Griffith became a leader in the pro-Treaty side and became Chairman of the Provisional Government following Michael Collins' decision to resign and lead the army. However, Griffith's wife Mollie (or Maud) was shocked at how the events leading up to the Civil War had aged him. On August 12 1922, Griffith died very suddenly of a brain haemorrhage. His funeral was attended by Michael Collins, who would be killed himself on August 22.

The pair were commemorated by the Cenotaph on Leinster Lawn until its replacement in 1950.

To learn more about Griffith's involvement in these events, visit our museum.

#1916

in 1975, Robert Barton, the last living of those who signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty died.Having served in the ranks of ...
10/08/2026

in 1975, Robert Barton, the last living of those who signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty died.

Having served in the ranks of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers during the Easter Rising, contact with the rebellion's leaders and discomfort over their treatment turned him to the republican cause. He resigned from the army and soon after joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood.

He was part of the first Dáil, and was active during the War of Independence. Famously, he escaped Mountjoy Jail in 1919,with the aid of Richard Mulcahy. Using a smuggled file to escape his cell and a length of rope thrown over the exterior wall, Barton left a note for the prison authorities, saying that he felt compelled to leave due to the discomfort of his surroundings. He was made Minister for Economic Affairs when elected to the Second Dáil in 1921..

Barton was of course part of the delegation sent over to continue the negotiations, along with Collins, Griffith, Duggan and George Gavan Duffy. His cousin Erskine Childers had also travelled over to London. Following months of negotiations, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was drafted up. Barton was most reluctant to sign, actually calling back his fellow plenipotentiaries after they had dressed to set out to Downing Street to sign articles of agreement.

He joined the Anti-Treaty side during the Civil war, and was imprisoned during the conflict. Following the formation of the Free State, he became the chairman of what would become Bord na Móna in 1934, spending the next 30 years with the organisation.



Image source: W.D. Hogan

in 1914, Ireland became embroiled in the First World War. Originally known as the 'Great War', Ireland's position in t...
07/08/2026

in 1914, Ireland became embroiled in the First World War.

Originally known as the 'Great War', Ireland's position in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ensured the island's involvement following the British government's declaration of war on the German Empire in the first week of August 1914.

The war had immense ramifications for Ireland. Self-government in the form of Home Rule was postponed in September 1914, while militant republicans believed the war served as a useful distraction that could enable rebellion at home.

Over 200,000 Irishmen would fight in the ranks of the British military all over the world. Some for the hope that Home Rule would be ensured, others for belief in German aggression, some for what seems now a strange sense of adventure. Meanwhile, women found themselves occupying new roles in society, as the men who worked factories and all kinds of essential services joined the military.

Conversely, German military aid, in the form of thousands of rifles and ammunition, was infamously dispatched to aid the rebels of Easter Week 1916. By war's end, Home Rule's delay and the Easter Rising had facilitated the rise of Sinn Féin and republicanism. Within weeks of the November 1918 Armistice, the first Dáil Éireann had convened in Dublin and the struggle for Irish independence begun anew.

While this post is but a small snippet of the war's impact on Ireland, it is safe to say that that impact is still felt on the island and around the world. To learn more, visit our museum.

Join us on this special tour at the GPO Museum as we explore the extraordinary life of Michael Collins.103 years on from...
24/07/2026

Join us on this special tour at the GPO Museum as we explore the extraordinary life of Michael Collins.

103 years on from his death, Michael Collins is considered to be one of the most important figures in Ireland’s fight for independence. To mark the anniversary of his passing, we are hosting a special tour in tribute to his life.

This tour is dedicated to Collins’ life, his accomplishments, and telling the story of his legacy, featuring artefacts in our museum that reference different periods in his life, from his early membership in the GAA as a young man to his role as a plenipotentiary during the treaty negotiations in London in 1921.

Booking is essential, as availability is limited. You can book via our website https://www.gpomuseum.ie/events/michael-collins-tour/. Please note this tour includes descriptions of violence and may not be suitable for children under the age of 12.

Images courtesy of the National Library of Ireland.

We are delighted to welcome Her Excellency Ms. Melitta Schubert, to our museum! Our manager Ann-Marie brought her around...
10/07/2026

We are delighted to welcome Her Excellency Ms. Melitta Schubert, to our museum! Our manager Ann-Marie brought her around the museum to brush up on Irish history.

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O'Connell Street
Dublin
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Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

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