Vintage view: The GPO, Dublin

A few weeks away from the start of the national celebrations to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising, Kya deLongchamps wonders why the leaders chose the General Post Office as a theatre of war?

The atmosphere surrounding the 1916 rebellion is easily projected on the dusty heights of the surrounding city by just standing quietly for a few minutes on O’Connell Street.

If you want to grab a child’s full attention — then take them to the shelter of the monument dedicated to the Emancipator, and start by pointing out the bullet holes pierced in the breasts of the bowing angels (officially called The Winged Victories).