OLD P&T TELEFON KIOSK [PHOTOGRAPHED IN ENNISKERRY ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO]

I well remember the old P&T telephone kiosks in Ireland as they never worked when you needed them often because they were badly maintained or because the coins collected in the coin-box were infrequently removed by Post office staff. Of course the Post Office [or Telecom Eireann at a later date] always maintained that the problems were due to vandalism. However, once some competition arrived on the scene the service improved  but this happened at the time the switch over to mobiles was well under way.

One source claims that “Dublin’s first telephone kiosk was installed in May of 1925, next to the Henry Grattan statue on College Green.” According to another source  “The first “Telefon” box was installed in 1925 and and until recently it could be found on Dawson Street, Dublin.” When I last checked the kiosk in Dawson Street  I could not find it. I assume that it has been removed because of the the LUAS Tram line construction project that is ongoing. I really do hope that it is returned to its original location.

If you are interested in old Phone Kiosks you should visit http://www.the-telephone-box.co.uk/kiosks/k1-mk-234/

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OLDEST PHONE KIOSK - DAWSON STREET

I have been advised that this is a K1 or a close copy of a K1
The first standard public telephone kiosk introduced by the United Kingdom Post Office was produced in concrete in 1920 and was designated K1 (Kiosk No.1). This design was not of the same family as the familiar red telephone boxes. Very few remarkable examples remain. One shining example is located in Trinity market in Kingston-upon-Hull where it is still in use today.