An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July/August 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 10 | Custom House Visitor Centre by PAUL O'BRIEN MA PHotoS by CPL LEE COYLE O ne of the best aspects of heritage in Ireland is the hidden gems that one discovers. the refurbished Custom House Visitor centre is one such diamond. Located on the north side of the River Liffey, on Custom House Quay, between butt bridge and talbot Memorial bridge, the Custom House, a well-known Dublin landmark for over two hundred years, was the architectural masterpiece of James Gandon. the building replaced an older Custom House and was completed in 1791, after ten years of construction. Controversy surrounded its location but many thought it suitable along the quays where custom duties could be collected from ships docking along the river. The building currently houses the Dept. of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Entrance to the centre is from the quayside of the building and in under the magnificent dome. The exhibition outlines the history of the building and those that worked within its environs and occupies the ground and first floor rooms. The first floor of the exhibition details the work of Gandon, the design and construction of the building and features Gandon's original draughtsman's desk. The inside and exterior of the building boasts some of the finest neo- classical architecture in Europe and is well worth investigating. An interesting feature to the exhibition is the Met Éireann weather room, which examines the development of meteorology in Ireland. During the 1916 Easter Rising the building was used as an FOB for British troops as they launched operations to retake the city from the Irish Volunteers. A number of high profile prisoners were held here during that week that included Roddy Connolly, the son of James Connolly, and Frank Thornton, who later became one of Michael Collins intelligence officers. The weather for that momentous week is also looked at, with it being an unusually warm few days, reaching 18 degrees. The building was destroyed, not during the Rising, but during the Irish War of Independence. In May 1921, the IRA launched its largest opera- tion against Crown Forces, when Republican operatives raided the building and set it alight. A recent wreath laying ceremony on 25th May 2016 was followed by a sympo- sium retelling the story of the raid, those involved and the military outcome of the attack. The final part of the exhibition deals with the destruction of the building during the raid in 1921 and the subsequent restoration that took place from 1924 to 1930. the staff are friendly and helpful and this magnificent building is well worth a visit. With free entry, the centre is open to visitors from 10am- 4.30pm, daily. the exhibition has been extended to the end of summer 2016. An impressive 18' bronze sculpture representing Mother Eire with a dying soldier by artist Yann Renard Goulet overlooks the fountain on the Gardiner Street side of Custom House. The piece was commissioned by the Dublin Memorial Brigade in the early 1950s to commemorate the Old IRA men who died in the attack on the Custom House in 1921. President Seán T. O'Kelly unveiled it on 20th May 1956.

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