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AN POST HAS been granted permission to hang advertising banners on the outside of the GPO, sparking criticism from some who say it will undermine the character of the protected structure.
An application was submitted to Dublin City Council in June to hang two large banners advertising the Witness History exhibit on the outside of the building in Dublin.
It claimed numbers had dropped significantly since the exhibit – an interactive tour of the events of the 1916 rising – first opened to the public in 2016.
In a report supporting the application, it said “visitor numbers to the exhibition have diminished after an initial peak and there is little indication of the existence of the exhibition externally”.
The cost of establishing the attraction, funded by the State, came in at around €10 million but visitor numbers have consistently fallen from 160,000 when it first opened, to 100,000 in 2017, and down again to just under 88,000 last year.
In granting permission to An Post, Dublin City Council said the banners could be installed for a period of two years instead of the requested three years, after which a new planning application would be required for them to remain.
Other conditions state that the banners should be clear of “visible damage or decay” at all times, a conservation expert must be brought in to oversee the installation, and fixtures should be inspected regularly to preserve the integrity of the building.
‘Disrespectful’
The decision to grant permission to An Post has come under fire by individuals and organisations who say it takes away from the character of the historic building.
Green Party councillor Donna Cooney submitted an objection to the application during the planning stages, and believes allowing An Post to install them is a poor decision on the part of Dublin City Council.
“From what I can see they have just copied and pasted a number of conditions that you would put on any planning application, aside from having a conservation architect,” she said.
“They haven’t really considered the iconic building that it is… you see Kilmainham Gaol is the second biggest tourist attraction after the Guinness Storehouse, so we know people are interested in history.
“They could bring in more artifacts, because a lot of it is multimedia, and they could be more genuine, so people could connect with what is there – and then connect that with the historical Quarter of Moore Street.
“It’s disrespectful to what the actual building is in terms of character and this takes away from the facade,” she added.
Ian Lumley, heritage officer with An Taisce, which also submitted an objection to the proposal during planning stages, said it is considering lodging an appeal to An Bord Pleanála due to the length of time the signage will be displayed
“It’s one thing putting up banners for a commemorative event for a few months but this is two years, and then there’s an argument for extensions after that.
“There are other short-term things which we don’t have an issue with but this would reflect an inappropriate, longer-term plan.”
A spokesperson for An Post declined to comment when contacted by TheJournal.ie.
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When I first saw the headline I was picturing more regular advertising but come on, its specifically to advertise an exhibition of the history of the building and the GPO’s importance to it and in the artists rendering the banners aren’t that intrusive and seem less about advertising and more about allowing tourists to identify that they have located the building
It’s a great exhibition, I visited a few months ago, if banners encourage more people to visit that’s good.
Best thing about the GPO is it is still a real post office and gets used everyday. I’m sure this also “damages some historical features but keeps the building in use. Keeping visitors to the museum part is more of the same.
These extremists should stop trying to be so dogmatic in their “conservation” or before they know it the building will be unused for several years, no buyer to be found until Tim steps in and opens a Spoons called the Unruly Peasant
This should be stamped out.
@Gav Brosnan: it’s a sign of the times
@Robc: the Irish Times?
@Gav Brosnan:
Post haste!
@Gav Brosnan: They’ll never deliver.
Maybe visitor numbers might actually increase if the stories of the Volunteers were told and it was the starting point to the historic and cultural quarter and people could walk the actual 1916 evacuation route taken by the 350 plus GPO Garrison and enter the terrace and buildings in Moore Street and surrounds, that would be sensitively restored to tell the story of the foundation of our Republic in a very real way.
As well as a working post office the GPO is an iconic building worldwide because of the events of Easter Week 1916 and they simply can’t be bothered to tell these stories. People possibly feel short changed. I know I did when I attended on its opening day in 2016 with my Mum as paying customers and there was no mention of both her parents who risked their lives for their country there apart from a revolving electronic roll of honour outside the main area.
All the advertising in the world won’t improve the Witness History exhibition, its mostly multimedia and not a great exhibition when you compare it to Kilmainham or the Guinness Store House.
@Aine Power: The Guinness Storehouse is one long day with a nice view at the end of it.
@Aidan: it’s actually a very bad view
The museum in there is pretty poor in fairness. Was there at Xmas.
Knock it down and build an Aldi or Lidl.
@Ray_Liotta: let trump buy it
If you look at Trinity, arguable the city’s most important building, you’ll see that there are far worse things defacing our public buildings (ie Luas cables, street signs, steel poles) than a few removable banners.
As long as it doesnt involve more drilled holes in the stone pilars.
There should be plenty holes to reuse as Ive seen banners like this in that place before – At various parade days.
Can they not use chalk boards to avirtise only 635 a year
You mean tourists are actually still walking on O’Connell Street? In any event, anything over the GPO portico cannot be any worse than the hideosity on O’Connell St already, so what’s the fuss?
That’s nonsense – this is a fine exhibition and they always struggled to let people know that the intention was to make it permanent beyond the initial 2016 commemorations. Banners like this are everywhere around Europe on the grandest of museums, galleries and historic buildings, proudly announcing their latest exhibitions and events. How the hell can it be “disrespectful” to let visitors to Dublin know they can learn a lot about the history and meaning behind the GPO and the Rising inside? You’d swear they were painting the columns canary yellow.
It should if being left alone
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