Kilmainham Gaol
On the 15th of November 5th and 6th class went to Kilmainham Gaol. At first we went into the church where Joseph Plunkett was married hours before his execution . There was a film in the Church.
It showed the history of the gaol and the area of
Kilmainham. After the film was over we went to the oldest part of the gaol. While we were there we were told a story about an eight-year-old girl who was imprisoned for stealing a cloak during the Famine. Then we were shown upstairs where many Irish heroes were held captive before there execution. Such include James Connolly and Padraig Pearse .One of the leaders Eamon De Valera was not executed because he was
American and the British wanted the Americans to join with them in World War 1.
After that we went to see the cell that Countess
Marceiveicz was in while she was in prison. When we were finished
we went to the cell where mental prisoners were held. The walls were lined with bull hide and foam.
Then when we were finished there we went outside into the yard where the prisoners did their exercises .In the yard there was the Asguard a ship which smuggled arms in to the country during the 1916 Rising .After that we went in to the yard where the executions took place. There was a plaque on the wall which showed the names of the people and the dates of their executions.
Finally we went into the west wing of the gaol where there was
An art exhibition .We all had a great day.
By Cian and David