1916 Rising Postcards


Part of UCD Library's Curran Collection, most of these postcards were published in 1916 in the immediate aftermath of the Insurrection. They provide an excellent contemporary pictorial record of the damage to the city; one showing a “before and after” photograph of Sackville (O'Connell) Street. Some are reproductions of “under fire” photos taken by the Daily Sketch photographer and published by Easons. Other series were produced by Hely's and Coleman's publishers. The collection contains 37 distinct postcards (as well as duplicates) collected by Constantine Curran.

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Sinn Fein rebellion, 1916: smoking ruins on the side of the Liffey, Dublin


Sinn Fein rebellion, 1916: smoking ruins on the side of the Liffey, Dublin

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Irish rebellion May 1916: soldiers holding a Dublin street


Irish rebellion May 1916: soldiers holding a Dublin street

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Irish rebellion May 1916: Talbot Street, Dublin, held against a rebel charge. Picture taken under fire


Irish rebellion May 1916: Talbot Street, Dublin, held against a rebel charge. Picture taken under fire

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After the insurrection: ruins of Eden Quay


After the insurrection: ruins of Eden Quay

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The Four Courts façade: view across the Liffey from Merchants' Quay showing damage


View of the Four Courts façade across the Liffey from Merchants' Quay by W.D. Hogan. Building shows damage, mainly broken windows in the cupola. The republican flag is flying from the roof; a truck is blocking the entrance to the east courtyard.

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Irish rebellion May 1916: Henry Street, Dublin, after the shelling of the rebels


Irish rebellion May 1916: Henry Street, Dublin, after the shelling of the rebels

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The Four Courts façade: from Merchants' Quay showing damage


View of the Four Courts façade by W.D. Hogan from Merchants' Quay. Building shows damage, mainly broken windows; windows in cupola blocked with sandbags; the republican flag is flying; a truck is blocking the entrance to the east courtyard; debris and sandbags outside the entrance to the west courtyard. (Date stamped 18 July).

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Interior of a building which has been completely gutted by fire


The steel girders have remained largely intact.

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Henry Street, Dublin, looking towards Nelson's Pillar, after bombardment


Henry Street, Dublin, looking towards Nelson's Pillar, after bombardment

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Sackville Street, Dublin (Abbey Street corner) after the bombardment


Sackville Street, Dublin (Abbey Street corner) after the bombardment

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Sinn Fein rebellion: corner of Sackville Street, Dublin. Before and after


Sinn Fein rebellion: corner of Sackville Street, Dublin. Before and after

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Sinn Fein rebellion, 1916: wrecked shops in Sackville Street, Dublin


Sinn Fein rebellion, 1916: wrecked shops in Sackville Street, Dublin

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Sinn Fein rebellion, 1916: Sackville Street, Dublin


Sinn Fein rebellion, 1916: Sackville Street, Dublin

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The insurrection in Dublin: armoured motor car in Bachelor's Walk


The insurrection in Dublin: armoured motor car in Bachelor's Walk

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Sinn Fein rebellion: Sackville Street, Dublin. Before and after


Sinn Fein rebellion: Sackville Street, Dublin. Before and after

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The Four Courts: view of the west wing from Merchants' Quay


View of the west wing of the Four Courts from Merchants' Quay by W.D. Hogan. End of the building at Morgan Place shows extensive damage from shelling; three floors and the wall have partially collapsed; a truck is blocking the entrance to the rear of the building at Morgan Place.

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The Four Courts façade: view from Merchants' Quay showing extensive damage


View of the façade of the Four Courts from Merchants' Quay (probably by W.D. Hogan); façade shows extensive damage and the entire building is enveloped in thick smoke possibly in the aftermath of the explosion at the PRO.

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The Four Courts façade: view from Merchants' Quay showing damage to the west wing


View of the façade of the Four Courts from Merchants' Quay by W.D. Hogan. Façade shows extensive damage to the west wing from shelling in which three floors and the wall have partially collapsed; the roof has holes and there is masonry missing from the entrance to the west courtyard; the foreground on Merchants' Quay is strewn with debris and broken tram lines; cupola of the Four Courts is shrouded in smoke.

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After the insurrection: burning ruins in Upper Sackville Street


After the insurrection: burning ruins in Upper Sackville Street

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Sinn Fein rebellion, 1916: corner of Sackville Street, Dublin


Sinn Fein rebellion, 1916: corner of Sackville Street, Dublin

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Irish rebellion May 1916: Sackville Street in flames. A photograph taken by a "Daily Sketch" photographer under fire


Irish rebellion May 1916: Sackville Street in flames. A photograph taken by a "Daily Sketch" photographer under fire

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After the insurrection: corner of Bachelor's Walk and Lr. Sackville Street, which commanded O'Connell Bridge


After the insurrection: corner of Bachelor's Walk and Lr. Sackville Street, which commanded O'Connell Bridge

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Irish rebellion May 1916: the interior of the ballroom, Imperial Hotel, Dublin, after the siege


Irish rebellion May 1916: the interior of the ballroom, Imperial Hotel, Dublin, after the siege

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Irish rebellion May 1916: soldiers bivouacking opposite Liberty Hall, the rebel headquarters in Dublin


Irish rebellion May 1916: soldiers bivouacking opposite Liberty Hall, the rebel headquarters in Dublin

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O'Connell Bridge and quays Dublin: before and after "Sinn Fein Rebellion"


O'Connell Bridge and quays Dublin: before and after "Sinn Fein Rebellion"

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Interior of a completely gutted building


The building possibly is on Sackville Street. A telegraph pole appears to be suspended in mid-air, debris is lying at the front of the building, and the cobbled street is full of puddles.

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Group of men outside a row of badly damaged and demolished buildings


Possibly on Sackville Street. Some of the men are working but others are scrutinising the damage; the remains of what appears to be a burned out tram are in the foreground.

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Soldiers outside a restaurant in ruins


The three photographs have some differences in detail. The restaurant interior has been destroyed although its façade, including decorative ironwork, appears to be largely intact; the soldiers are helping to salvage furniture. Further down the street there is even greater devastation of buildings with debris and wrecked vehicles lying around.

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Badly damaged buildings and people looking among the ruins


The two photographs have some differences in detail. The buildings possibly are on Sackville Street. The foreground contains twisted metal including the remains of a tram and a sign advertising Nestle's.

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Man viewing the interior of a badly damaged building


The two photographs have some differences in detail. The man is viewing the gutted interior of very badly damaged buildings, possibly in the vicinity of the GPO, the parapet of which may just be visible. The foreground is a mass of twisted girders, and a long ladder is resting on part of the building.

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Soldiers in defensive position in the doorway and at a window of a building in ruins


The two photographs have some differences in detail.

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A gentleman standing in the ruins of part of the Four Courts


Photograph by W.D. Hogan of a gentleman standing in the ruins of part of the Four Courts surrounded by debris and broken pillars. He is holding what is possibly the remnant of a document from the explosion in the treasury of the PRO.

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The Four Courts: ruined interior


Photograph by W.D. Hogan of the ruined interior of the Four Courts. Debris and broken pillars lie around. The imposing statue of a judge has been badly damaged.

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Henry Street, Dublin, showing side of G.P.O. after the bombardment


Henry Street, Dublin, showing side of G.P.O. after the bombardment

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Interior Coliseum Theatre, Dublin, after bombardment


Interior Coliseum Theatre, Dublin, after bombardment

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A soldier on duty outside a ruined building


The photograph possibly has been taken near the Munster and Leinster Bank on Sackville Street (current address: 10-11 O'Connell Street Lower, Dublin 1); the gables of other badly damaged buildings are visible in the background.

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Sackville Street, Dublin, showing ruins of Hotel Metropole and G.P.O. after bombardment


Sackville Street, Dublin, showing ruins of Hotel Metropole and G.P.O. after bombardment

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Sinn Fein rebellion, 1916: D.B.C. Sackville Street, Dublin


Sinn Fein rebellion, 1916: D.B.C. Sackville Street, Dublin

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Sinn Fein rebellion, 1916: Liberty Hall, Dublin


Sinn Fein rebellion, 1916: Liberty Hall, Dublin

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Exterior of G.P.O. after evacuation, showing broken flag-post from which Republican flag was flown


Exterior of G.P.O. after evacuation, showing broken flag-post from which Republican flag was flown

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Irish rebellion May 1916: Liberty Hall, Dublin, the rebel headquarters, after the storming


Irish rebellion May 1916: Liberty Hall, Dublin, the rebel headquarters, after the storming

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James Connolly murdered May 12th 1916


Postcard showing Liberty Hall with a banner hanging from the upper story which says 'James Connolly Murdered May 12th 1916'.

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Sackville Street, Dublin, showing ruins of D.B.C. restaurant after bombardment


Sackville Street, Dublin, showing ruins of D.B.C. restaurant after bombardment

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Liberty Hall showing extensive structural and artillery damage on one side


The two photographs have some differences in detail. Bricks have spilled out onto the street and workmen are in the process of loading them onto carts.

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Demolition of part of a building in Middle Abbey Street


The two photographs are taken from different angles. They show dust rising from the ruins and one photograph incorporates a group of people watching the process with curiosity. A building contractor's sign has been hung on the adjacent building.

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A group of people standing at the junction of Westmoreland Street and Carlisle Bridge which is showing extensive damage


The two photographs have some differences in detail. The bridge damage is being viewed, in the rain, by onlookers. Some men are on a ladder repairing tram cables and soldiers are standing on duty.

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Sinn Fein rebellion: D.B.C. Sackville Street, Dublin. Before and after


Sinn Fein rebellion: D.B.C. Sackville Street, Dublin. Before and after

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