Kilmainham Gaol

by Sam and Chris Reddy

We arrived at the school as normal at 9.00 am. When we got to the classroom we were told that the bus would be there at 10.00.. The journey was quick, and we arrived outside of the Gaol at around 11 o’clock. We waited outside the Gaol for around 10 minutes and then we went inside. 

 

We were led inside by the tour guide who gave us a brief introduction to the Gaol’s history. After the introduction he gave us a safety briefing and told us not to stray from the tour. We then went into the Gaol chapel; he told us that there were many marriages there including the marriage of Joseph Plunket to Grace Gifford. 

 

We were led into the oldest of the cells that were constructed in the 19th century. The tour guide told us that he prisons cells were designed for only one person by that overcrowding was common that cells when the great famine was in Ireland. 

 

After that, we went to a row of cells where many famous people were held like Countess Markievicz. There were a lot of rows that were identical to that row of cells were held like Patrick and Joseph Plunket were held. Our tour guide told us that Emon De Valera was held on an entire row of cells by himself because they did not want the other inmates to know he was there 

 

Later, we went into the main part of the Gaol. The tour guide said that many films were filmed here. He also said that this part of the Gaol was used a lot in the civil war. This part of the Gaol was designed that there only had to be 2 guards in that section of the Gaol.  All ninety-six cells could be seen and it was filled with light. When we finished, we went to the courtyard where many historical figures were shot including the 7 signatories. 

 

Finally, we went to the museum at the end of the tour where we saw some artifacts from the people who lived and died at Kilmainham Gaol.  We also saw an exhibition exploring how the Museum was restored in the late 20th century. 

 

All in all, it was a great day out for our 6th class