Custom House Fire 11 images Created 18 Nov 2015
The neo-classical Custom House on Dublin's opened in 1791. The building was attacked and destroyed by fire by members of the IRA's Dublin brigade on 25 May 1921. The attack had both a practical and propaganda value. In 1921 the Custom House was primarily devoted to local government. The attack was also intended to counter British propaganda depicting the IRA as criminals and assassins by staging a major daylight operation in the capital city. A number of IRA volunteers and civilians were killed, and large numbers of IRA volunteers were detained in the aftermath. The building itself was burnt out but was reopened in 1928.
