Today we visit Kilmainham Gaol. It was an awesome experience giving the fact that this place holds major historical significance. When we first arrived we headed towards the museum. My favorite part of course was the second floor , which is the History and Politics section. I was very impressed by the comprehensive collection of legal documents, news papers, letters, and relics found in this section. Kilmainham Goal was established in 1796 and served as prison until 1924. We had the opportunity to go in the tour visit the cells where woman,children, and man served their sentence. We learned that the youngest prisoner was only five years old, and that many of the prisoners were arrested by minor transgressions such as: begging in the streets, or stealing food. During this period of time people were living in extremely poverty , and had no choice, but to relied in these means to survived.  One of the biggest remarks of the tour was  seeing the cells where the leaders of  the Eastern Rising were placed, which are located in the picture above. 14 out of 16 of them spent their last days in here. We are able to visit the place where they, and many other people were executed.

Even thought a week ago I had not previous connection to this place, I felt a little emotional when the the tour guide said:

“What happened between these walls changed the course of Irish History”  (Referring to the walls where the executions took place).

I think that the fact that we have study a little bit of Irish history, and our exposure to the culture & and to this place (Dublin) created that empathy I felt at that moment. These were men who must have love their homeland so deeply that they sacrificed their lives to set it free.