Granite from GPO to be used as part of 1916 Memorial on Fairgreen in Mullingar

A piece of granite from the original front portico of the GPO that remained standing after the 1916 Rising has been presented to the team behind the 1916 Centenary Monument at Mullingar’s Green Bridge.

An Post staff members Damian Duncan and Ger O’Connor presented the granite stone to Cllr Bill Collentine, Jason McKevitt, Tomás Nally and Willie Collentine of the Mullingar Tidy Towns 1916 Memorial Sub-Committee at the 1916 memorial over the weekend.

The two men carried out the presentation on behalf of Maurice Blake, head of Property with An Post.

Significantly, Damien Duncan is the grandson of Commandant Ned Whelehan, who was a local commander with the Irish Volunteers/Óglaigh na hÉireann in the Mullingar area during the 1916 period and subsequent revolutionary years.

Damien is also the grand-nephew of Captain Christopher Whelehan, who served under 1916 Proclamation signatory, Commandant Thomas MacDonagh during the 1916 Easter Rising at Jacobs Biscuit Factory Garrison.

Ger O’Connor, who also represented An Post, is also a member of the 1916 Memorial Sub-Committee.

The presentation of this historic artefact was accepted by the chairman of Mullingar Tidy Towns and deputy mayor of Mullingar, Cllr Bill Collentine, along with fellow 1916 Memorial Sub-Committee members, Tomas Nally, Jason McKevitt (historian) and Willie Collentine Jnr, with members Eamonn McGowan and Anita Kennedy unable to attend on the morning.

The historic significance of the presentation was not lost on those present with everyone feeling the dual senses of both excitement and pride.

A letter of authentication by Maurice Blake was also presented confirming that the stone is from the original front portico of the GPO, which opened in 1814 and which remained standing after the Rising.

“The stone comes from a section removed as part of necessary repairs made to the GPO portico in the late 1990s when the mortar used on the facade as part of the rebuild and repair in the 1920s was found to be crumbling,” the letter stated.

It is planned that this piece of GPO granite stone will be placed within the Mullingar 1916 Memorial over the coming weeks.

It must be added that this is the first time that an original piece of granite from the GPO has been presented or indeed placed within a 1916 Memorial anywhere in Ireland, making Mullingar’s 1916 Memorial historically unique.

“We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the management and staff of An Post for this wonderful and historic presentation to the Mullingar Tidy Towns 1916 Memorial Sub-Committee, which in essence, is also a presentation to the people of Mullingar,” said a committee spokesperson this week.

“For us within the Sub-Committee, it is envisaged that all who live within or visit Mullingar, and who come to view our towns unique 1916 Memorial, will do so to reflect, honour and respect the history and memory of those great men and women of Ireland, especially those of whom came from within our own town of Mullingar and its hinterlands, who stood to the fore, when the ‘Sean-Bhean Bhocht’ called on her children to do so.”