The Custom House - Dublin Ireland 5x7 Greeting Card by Mark Tisdale.

This Dublin Ireland greeting card features The Custom House, a beautiful 18th century building. This was actually the second custom house to occupy the site. The first was built in 1707 but less than a century later was replaced by the larger Neoclassical structure we see today. Construction was started in 1781 and completed in 1791.

Even before the war for Irish independence, the large building had become obsolete. As ships grew bigger, the port of Dublin had moved further down river away from the old city. At that time it was no longer used for its original purpose but was still a government building, not only housing government offices but symbolically a part of Britain that stood in Dublin's center. As a result, the building was a target and was burned in 1921. The original interior was lost and the dome collapsed. In the decades that followed, it was rebuilt and today it houses offices for the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage. It's such an imposing part of Dublin's 18th century architecture it's hard to imagine it missing from the riverfront.

I would love to hear what attracts you to the image on this particular Dublin greeting card? Are you simply a fan of the grand architecture and old world European feel? Or have you visited Dublin and it made an impression on you? Or maybe you have a different connection entirely to The Custom House on Dublin's River Liffey? I hope you'll take a second to share your thoughts.

Also available in black and white:

• Custom House - Dublin Black And White Greeting Card