Sunday, we were determined to go and were praying it dint rain.. Thank god it dint.. Took a bus and headed to Kilmainham Gaol..
Gaol = Jail
Kilmainham Gaol (Irish: Príosún Chill Mhaighneann) is a former prison, located in Kilmainham in Dublin, which is now a museum. It has been run since the mid-1980s by the Office of Public Works (O.P.W.), an Irish Government agency.
Great rebels from the 1916 uprising (Easter Rising) were put here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Rising
This known as the '1916 corridor'
Kilmainham Gaol has played an important part in Irish history, as many leaders of Irish rebellions were imprisoned and some executed in the jail. Built in 1796, over the 140 years it served as a prison, its cells held many of the most famous people involved in the campaign for Irish independence.
Here Ireland's greatest rebels were imprisoned and many of them executed. Now it is the largest unoccupied jail in Europe and a museum charters the violent transition to Irish independence.
One great leader was Joseph Mary Plunkett..
Hours before his execution by firing squad at the age of 28, he was married in the prison chapel to his sweetheart Grace Gifford at the Jail chapel. And she did not remarry.. A very sad story of a brave man and a wonderful poet.
A wonderful song Sung by Jim McCann. From the DVD "40 Years Live at the Gaiety"
Kilmaninham Goal was supposed to be a reform prison. With only 1 prisoner per cell and also no communication or eye contact between prisoners. But things changed toward the last years until when this prison was open. There were upto 5 people in each cell and also the time during the time of the potato blight (also known as the Great Irish Famine ), people committed small crimes so that they could get arrested and get the food that is provided in the jail.
Another great leader, James Connolly's execution was the one which lead to big protests cos of the way they executed him.
Those who were executed here who were involved in the Easter Rising in 1916:
The children were put in separate cells here and were not allowed to talk to or even make eye contact with other children who were in jail:
Must admit the guide was simply too good.. His knowledge and the passion with which he explained things were really touching.. Some sad tales, some wonderful love stories. 130 years of history within a 1 and half hour tour..
Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilmainham_Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol Pics
A must visit if you are in Dublin..
A few movies were shot here too.. Including: The Italian Job(1969) and the very recent The Escapist(2008)
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