We’ve seen this location in Michael Collins, and we have seen many like it in countless other films, related to and not related to war. Because of this exposure and access to images of imprisonment, it can be argued that we have become desensitized to its effects. However, Kilmainham Goal’s history lingers. Our tour guide mentioned that disease and dampness sunk into the limestone walls of the cells, and I’d argue so did the place’s memories.

Shamefully, throughout the tour, I was distracted by the adorable, large-headed baby being carried by a couple who joined us. But, my distraction was still pointed towards our topic: imagine a child just a few years older than he being caged into these cells? being whipped by guards?

For obvious reasons, the place was painful to experience. It was jarring to peak into the holes for the cells, like the one pictured in this photo. Popular culture and representations of prisons caused me to anticipate something spooky to appear in the hole, while another part of me didn’t require spectacle to become uncomfortable with the space; the history we have been submerged in for the past week is sufficient enough to imagine what the walls of the cells contained and the importance of these bodies. Most of the tour guides have spoke of the “16 lives” highly, and boasted about the honor and bravery of the men and women who offered themselves and their children for the cause. These spaces contained some of these people, and peering through those holes, even while the rooms were empty, I could vividly imagine the bodies of the people we are coming to know.

I also wanted to include this link in our blog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3xNfbXiUtw
U2 filmed their video for “Celebration” in the Kilmainham Goal, likely as part of the effort to raise funds for restoring the property after years of debate on what should be done with the space.