DARRAGH O'BRIEN TD
  • HOME
  • About Darragh
  • News
  • Parliamentary Questions
    • Housing, Planning & Local Government PQ's
    • School PQs
    • Foreign Affairs PQS
    • Oral Questions
  • Newsletters
  • Videos
  • PHOTOS
  • FIANNA FAIL
  • CONTACT
  • DATA Protection Statement

News

100 Years On — Remembering the Burning of the Custom House

14/5/2021

 
As part of the Government’s Decade of Centenaries, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will this month remember the Burning of the Custom House (the Department’s headquarters), which took place 100 years ago on May 25th 1921. On Tuesday, May 25th 2021, the Department will live stream a remembrance event in conjunction with relatives of both those who took part in the attack and civilians who were killed that day.
On May 25th, 1921, the IRA seized and set fire to the Custom House, one of the British Government’s most important administrative buildings in Ireland at the time. Nine people – five IRA members and four civilians – were killed in the gun-battles, which took place in and around the building. The neoclassical building, first opened in 1791, and its administrative records were completely destroyed. Six weeks later, the Irish and British sides in the conflict reached a truce, thus marking the end of the War of Independence.  The attack on the Custom House was the largest single operation by the IRA during the War of Independence. 
To mark the centenary:
  • The Department will hold ‘Centenary of the Burning of the Custom House Event’ in conjunction with relatives of both those who took part in the attack and civilians who were killed in the attack at the Custom House on May 25th. The event will be attended by relatives of those killed. Minister Darragh O’Brien will represent the State. Due to public health restrictions, only 15 people can attend the event. The event will be streamed live on the department’s Facebook channel (@DeptHLGH).
  • The Department has and is supporting a number of related initiatives, including:
    • the Beyond 2022 Research Showcase ‘Marking the Centenary of the Custom House Fire’ webinar events on May 25th, a conference streamed from the Custom House;
    • History Ireland magazine are producing two ‘Hedge School Podcasts’ – one about the building of the Custom House and the second about its destruction;
    • the ‘Burning of the Custom House Conference’, a weekly online lecture series that is running from early April to May 25th;
    • a specially commissioned online documentary on the events of 100 years ago, which will debut on the Department’s social media channels;
    • participation in a number of other media programmes and documentaries about the Burning of the Custom House.
  • The Department will publish of a number of short social media videos, on the Burning of the Custom House and the building, on the department’s social media channels.
 
These initiatives are in support of the Government’s Decade of Centenaries Programme to mark the key events in Irish history leading up to, and including, the momentous events of 1912-23.
Commenting on the centenary remembrance events the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, said: “The Burning of the Custom House was one of the most significant events of the War of Independence. Six weeks after the burning, which saw 9 people killed and the building destroyed, the Irish and British sides agreed a truce. In the aftermath of its destruction, the new Free State Government, despite very difficult economic circumstances, took the really important step to rebuild this architectural masterpiece in the late 1920s.
“I am very pleased that my Department, which is headquartered in the Custom House, is playing its part in our Decade of Centenaries by remembering the Burning of the Custom House. As its custodians, on May 25th 2021, we will remember the nine people who were killed in the attack whilst also celebrating this remarkable building. I want to thank my officials, stakeholders, historians and the relatives who have worked together to ensure an appropriate programme of events will mark this important historical event.”

Comments are closed.
    Picture

    NEWS

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015

Darragh O'Brien TD


Address

Darragh O'Brien TD
Leinster House
Kildare Street
Dublin 2

Telephone

T:  01-6183802

Email

At present, and as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am not holding my regular meetings across our towns and villages in North County Dublin. However, both I and my office are happy to speak to you and assist you with any issues you may have.

For all housing, planning or heritage related queries please don’t hesitate to contact:
Email: minister@housing.gov.ie
Phone: 01-8882000
Postal address: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Custom House, Dublin 1, D01 W6X0
 
For all constituency related queries please don’t hesitate to contact:
Email: Darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie
Phone: 01-6183802
Postal address: Dáil Éireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
 



  • HOME
  • About Darragh
  • News
  • Parliamentary Questions
    • Housing, Planning & Local Government PQ's
    • School PQs
    • Foreign Affairs PQS
    • Oral Questions
  • Newsletters
  • Videos
  • PHOTOS
  • FIANNA FAIL
  • CONTACT
  • DATA Protection Statement