X Files: Did they shift the GPO after the Rising

Jimmy Magee

http://www.whatwasthere.com/browse.aspx#/ll/53.3493347167969,-6.259889125823975/id/5227/info/sv/

The above image shows the GPO located directly in front of the street from which the photo was taken.

Nowadays isn't the building slightly more towards the left. You can't see it fully from North Earl Street.

I also remember seeing it in Neil Jordan's biopic Michael Collins.

So did they shift the foundations or what?

Jimmy Magee

See here is today's view: http://g.co/maps/q4ax

So did they narrow North Earl after the great conflict?

teotihuacan

I don't really know Dublin City that well at all, but the only logical thing i can think of is that N Earl Street was constructed post 1916 rising. Perhaps the buildings there were damaged during the rising and were demolished and a new street (N Earl Street) was reconstructed slightly off centre to the front of the GPO?

Jimmy Magee

Clery's is directly in front of the GPO today and it lived through the Risng I believe.

Maybe the block to the left of Clery's was newly constructed. Seen here http://g.co/maps/8w9f

THat has to be it.

teotihuacan

ahh, yes, that does make sense. Looking at that photo, the block to the left of clery's definitely looks like it was constructed at a different time.

Mystery solved then. Just a quick switcheroo with that building.

breadandjam

I don't think that is a contemporary photgraph but a still taken during the shooting of the Michael Collins film which played a bit fast and loose with the events and locations of 1916 Dublin. AFAIK the nearest artilery piece to shell the GPO was in Westmoreland or D'Olier St.

Besides why would they rebuild the street in a different place- the street itself cobblestones and all was still there why move it? Here's a map of Dublin in 1913 showing North Earl st so unless they moved it before 1916 and then put it back after ...:)

http://roots.swilson.info/dublincity_1913/dublincity_1913.html

mikemac

breadandjam wrote: »

AFAIK the nearest artilery piece to shell the GPO was in Westmoreland or D'Olier St.

No wonder Sackville St was in ruins

That's trying to hit to hit the GPO at a severe angle

Yes, I know I'm coming across as an armchair expert but just seems a difficult shot to me

artanevilla

Looks like it was just the angle the different photos were taken.

Jimmy Magee

artanevilla wrote: »

Looks like it was just the angle the different photos were taken.

I don't think so. It would be impossible to get the whole building in like that today even if you stood on the right hand side of North Earl Street.

The Maverick

Just looked at the OSI website where you can view historic maps. A map from 1842 has North Earl Street directly across from Henry Street as it is today. I say that photo must be manipluated or possibly from the set of Michael Collins, as said above.

Rashers

Jimmy Magee wrote: »

http://www.whatwasthere.com/browse.aspx#/ll/53.3493347167969,-6.259889125823975/id/5227/info/sv/

The above image shows the GPO located directly in front of the street from which the photo was taken.

Nowadays isn't the building slightly more towards the left. You can't see it fully from North Earl Street.

I also remember seeing it in Neil Jordan's biopic Michael Collins.

So did they shift the foundations or what?

That's a still from the Neil Jordan fictionalised Michael Collins story. British artillery (apart from the gun on the Helga) fired from South of the Liffey.

iMax

It's the main set from Michael Collins. That's a publicity shot which has been "aged". The other end of the set was The Mansion House (or a representative thereof), there were two side streets one with the hotel & one with nondescript buildings.

Jimmy Magee

iMax wrote: »

It's the main set from Michael Collins. That's a publicity shot which has been "aged". The other end of the set was The Mansion House (or a representative thereof), there were two side streets one with the hotel & one with nondescript buildings.

The other end in the film was the Mansion House?

Why was that featured in the film?

BeerNut

Jimmy Magee wrote: »

The other end in the film was the Mansion House?

Why was that featured in the film?

It's where the Treaty debate happened. Some of the interior filming was in the 1937 Reading Room in TCD. They gave out free cigarettes to extras!

Jimmy Magee

In the film at the start they line the boys up un a yard/park somewhere with railings.

What/Where is that meant to be?

iMax

That's the Mansion House facade, but I think it's supposed to be the front of the Rotunda where that happened (IIRC)

BeerNut

The prisoners were sent to the Rotunda after the surrender, but the identification of the leaders happened the next day at Richmond Barracks in Inchicore.

Victor

I concur that it is likely a still from the film, which was filmed at Grangegorman.
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=swrv95gg93d0&lvl=19.081275872544733&dir=346.2390420801205&sty=b&form=LMLTCC

Note that the chimneys in the GPO survived the fire, but are missing from that photo. http://eu.art.com/products/p12062060-sa-i1504942/the-dublin-general-post-office-after-the-easter-uprising-of-1916.htm?aff=conf&ctid=1239511331&rfid=079957&tkid=15023298

iMax wrote: »

That's the Mansion House facade, but I think it's supposed to be the front of the Rotunda where that happened (IIRC)

In the film its more presented as what is now the Department of Education on Marlborough Street.

Some pics: http://irelandposters.com/irish_movies/

The Scientician

I preferred the depiction from Young Indiana Jones myself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkajKDx4RB4

Jimmy Magee

So why didn't Neil Jordan put North Earl Street at the right angle to the GPO?


Was it better to film it straight on?

breadandjam

Jimmy Magee wrote: »

So why didn't Neil Jordan put North Earl Street at the right angle to the GPO?


Was it better to film it straight on?

Because he would have had to build Nelson's Pillar which was in the middle of Sackville St

Jimmy Magee

So he left Nelson's Pillar out of the film?

Is that not a bit extreme? You'd think it would be a central point and all...

The Maverick

Could be a case of artistic licence as well. Was there a scene in the film that showed British troops charging up North Earl St as rebels shoot at them from the GPO directly in front of them? Mightnt have looked as good if they had to attack at an angle like in real life.

Jimmy Magee

The Maverick wrote: »

Could be a case of artistic licence as well. Was there a scene in the film that showed British troops charging up North Earl St as rebels shoot at them from the GPO directly in front of them? Mightnt have looked as good if they had to attack at an angle like in real life.

True and it would have been even worse if there was a stump of stone (Nelson's Pillar) in the way too!

iMax

As well as artistic licence, film sets are all about angles. You get much more useable space building a basic set of 90 degree angles than you would being elaborate.

BeerNut

Jimmy Magee wrote: »

Is that not a bit extreme? You'd think it would be a central point and all...

Whereas putting De Valera beside Collins in the GPO and having Ned Broy killed by the Brits in Dublin Castle was reasonable?

Edit: Oh and car bombs, FFS :rolleyes:

A Disgrace

The Scientician wrote: »

I preferred the depiction from Young Indiana Jones myself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkajKDx4RB4

Other than the GPO magically moving to Nth Earl St on 4:17, that's actaully a fairly detailed peice.. even down to the Abbey Theatre posters... Must get a look at the full episode.

MajorMax

http://roots.swilson.info/Dublin1916/1916map.html

The Scientician

A Disgrace wrote: »

Other than the GPO magically moving to Nth Earl St on 4:17, that's actaully a fairly detailed peice.. even down to the Abbey Theatre posters... Must get a look at the full episode.

I loved it when I saw it as a sprog, however, on review, there are clangers like bus stops and shutters but they use a lot of "authentic" streets and it's a funny auld romp. I just wish they had an Indiana Jones train station somewhere in the country.

Lazarus2.0

A perspective from Henry St/Sackville St in 1922

Cathaoirleach

Can anyone read the inscription on the base?

A Dub in Glasgo

'Blow me up in 1966'

---

The pic from the Michael Collins film was used by a website 'Irishhistorian.com' which has the following;

Disclaimer: The information on this page is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate.
Please double-check if you need to be sure of any facts

Victor

Cathaoirleach wrote: »

Can anyone read the inscription on the base?

http://www.chaptersofdublin.com/books/chronology/1800-1899.htm

The Duke of Richmond, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, laid the first stone of Nelson's Pillar, Dublin, on February 15 1808. The inscription on a plate placed on the stone read: "By the blessing of Almighty God, to commemorate the transcendant heroic achievements of the Right Hon. Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Duke of Bronti, in Sicily, Vice-Admiral of the White Squadron of his Majesty's Fleet, who fell gloriously in the Battle off Cape Trafalgar, on 21st day of October 1805; when he obtained for his Country a victory over the combined Fleets of France and Spain, unparalled in Naval History; the first stone of this Triumphal Pillar, was laid by his Grace, Charles, Duke of Richmond and Lennox."

BeerNut

Cathaoirleach wrote: »

Can anyone read the inscription on the base?

It says "St. Vincent, XIV February MDCCXCVII".

History of the City of Dublin (1818) wrote:

On the four pannels of the pedestal are inscribed the names and dates of his principal victories, together with the name NELSON. On the south side is inscribed, Trafalgar XXI October MDCCCV.—On the north, The Nile I August MDCCXCVIII.—On the west, St. Vincent, XIV February MDCCXCVII.; and on the east, Copenhagen, II April MDCCCI

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