1916 Moneybox

"My Grandfather, James Hourie was working in the GPO in Dublin during the 1916 Easter rising. The building was destroyed by fire during the course of the rebellion. When he went back to the destroyed building he was walking around the rubble and discovered the remains of a metal moneybox. These boxes were handed out to savers so that they could save at home and every so often bring the box to the post office. The clerk in the Post Office would then open the box (the customer did not have a key), count the money and then note the amount in a savings book. My Grandfather continued to work in the Post Office and rose to the position of Deputy Principal Accountant. This object is important as it demonstrates that the employees who worked in the Post Office before the Rebellion continued doing the same job under different Employers after the rebellion. My grandfather was a member of the Church of Ireland. This object is important to me as it signifies a connection to the events that occurred during 1916. My Grandfather joined the Post Office in 1906 in York, was transferred to Dublin before 1911 and married a Dublin girl in 1914. He continued working in the post office until his retirement."