post box

Wall-mounted cast-iron post box, erected c. 1940, with raised 'P&T' monogram in Gaelic script to head and with foundry mark to base reading ‘Jessop Davis, Enniscorthy’. Still in use. Set into rendered gate pier adjacent to site of Croagh Post Office, now demolished. Located adjacent to road in the rural landscape to the north of Dunkineely, and to the south-east of Ardara.

An attractive item of street furniture that represents an early surviving artefact of mass-produced cast-iron ware. Its survival is testament to the quality of its original design and of the materials used in its manufacturing. The raised Gaelic/Celtic Revival style script is of particular interest as a reminder of the promotion of a national identity following the establishment of the Independent State. The P&T monogram indicates the Department of Post and Telegraphs. This particular design probably dates to after c. 1937 as earlier post-independence post boxes usually had a 'SE' cipher. This post box was cast by the Jessop Davis Foundry (1890 - 1964) of Enniscorthy, County Wexford, who were responsible for many such P&T post boxes found throughout Ireland. It is located close to a rural crossroad junction, a common site for post boxes for obvious a reasons, and is adjacent to the site of the former Croagh Post Office, now demolished. This simple piece of street furniture makes a positive contribution to the isolated rural landscape to the north of Dunkineely, and is an integral element of the built heritage and social history of the local area.