Gpo Witness History

The GPO Museum is an immersive, interactive and engaging experience telling the story of the 1916 Easter Rising and Modern Irish History.

The GPO Museum is a permanent visitor attraction located within the historic GPO (General Post Office) building on O’Connell Street, Dublin. The experience is one of the newest Dublin Museums and it is one of the top attractions to explore. GPO Witness History has won numerous awards including the Micheletti Award at the European Museum Academy Awards (2017) and Best Cultural Experience at the Irish Tourism Industry Awards – over 100,000 people (2017).

This highly immersive and engaging exhibition puts you right inside the GPO during Easter Week in 1916

History will come to life as you experience events from both sides of the conflict and through the eyes of bystanders caught in the crossfire through electronic touch screens, video, audio visual booths, sound and authentic artefacts – many previously unseen.

You will be immersed in the action as you compose newspaper reports, examine the original copy of the Proclamation and send Morse code to declare the Irish Republic by radio.

After the exhibition relax and reflect in the café overlooking the courtyard and browse our retail store. The courtyard is also home to a commissioned sculpture called ‘They are of us all’, commemorating the forty children who died during the Easter Rising.

The GPO

The General Post Office is the centrepiece of Dublin’s grandest ceremonial street – O’Connell Street.The GPO was designed by Francis Johnston in 1814. He wanted to build a handsome, distinguished building that would cater for postal business and customers, add to Dublin’s architectural beauty and emphasise the important role of the Post Office in Irish life.

There was a fine public office at the front, a courtyard for the mail coaches at the back and an imposing façade complete with classical columns and statues on the roof. Since then, the layout of the building has changed many times and everything except the front was destroyed during the 1916 Rising.

Today, the GPO continues to hold a unique place in the hearts of Irish people. Considering all that it has witnessed, it is truly remarkable that this building retains its original function two centuries on.