Going to Gaol

Today we toured the Kilmainham Gaol, the prison that served Dublin until the 1920s. It was the chief holding area for most political prisoners and the site where the commanders of the Irish Citizens Army were executed after the 1916 Easter Rising. The pictures above are of the cells, and myself and Peter in the cells, with the camera looking through the peephole that the guards used to constantly check the prisoners. The fourth picture is of one of the exhibits in the museum illustrating the Victorian mindset about self-discipline - one must always maintain a balance of pleasure and pain. Personally, I found that particular part of the exhibit to be hilarious.

This tour really came at a great time in the trip because I am reading A Star Called Henry by Roddy Doyle, which is a historical fiction take on the events of the IRA and the Easter Rising. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good book and enjoys history. It's a fabulous book, and I'm really engaged with all of the characters, so the tour made everything fall into place. I feel like I'm gaining a much better understanding of the Irish fight for independence. Also, it was just morbidly cool.

This afternoon we went to a pub to watch the Gaelic football all-Ireland final. It was crazy - we watched a vicious fight break out amongst the players. Pretty sweet. Tomorrow...go to class. Probably the least exciting part of my time here. Alas, I must remind myself of my true purpose for being here, that I am 'studying' abroad, not 'gallivanting' abroad...