Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol was a former prison in Dublin that was in use from the 1780’s to the late 1920’s. In the 1960’s, the prison underwent heavy restoration and officially opened as a museum in 1966. In 1986, Kilmainham was handed over to the State for care by the OPW. It is most notable in Irish history for being the institution where the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were held and eventually executed by the British. There were 16 leaders held in captivity here, and 14 out of the 16 leaders were executed by firing squad. These executions were the catalyst for anti-Unionist sentiments amongst the people of Ireland, and it eventually led to the separation of the country from England and the of the Republic of Ireland being established in 1937.

The gaol standing now was built to replace the original gaol because of the poor, unsanitary conditions; however, it was not long after Kilmainham’s opening that it too was brought to a similar state of uncleanliness and poor sanitation. There was massive overcrowding, no true separation between men, women and children, and, during the time of the Great Famine in Ireland, many people were actually seeking to be put in Kilmainham simply to be looked after and fed. This overcrowding eventually led to mass deportation of prisoners to Australia, with the youngest deportee being a 14 year old girl. During this season of the jail, the rooms originally meant to hold one prisoner often accommodated up to four or five prisoners. The inmates were forced outside for one hour each day to exercise, which involved walking silently in circles in a single file formation. The prisoners were also typically forced to do labor, which consisted of stone-breaking for men, laundry for women, and cleaning of the gaol for children.

In May 1916, immediately after the 1916 Easter Rising was quelled, Kilmainham Gaol was reopened to house the hundreds of men and women who took part in the rebellion. Between May 3rd and May 12th, 14 men were executed for leading the Rising. The first executed was Patrick Pearse, who was commander and chief of the rebels. The other thirteen executed include Thomas Clarke, Thomas MacDonagh, Joseph Plunkett, Edward Daly, Michael O’Hanrahan, Eamonn Ceantt, William Pearse, John McBride, Michael Mallin, Sean Heuston, Con Colbert, Thomas Kent, Sean MacDiarmada, and James Connolly. One of the leaders, Joseph Plunkett, was given permission to marry his fiancée, Grace Gifford, in the chapel of the gaol just hours before his execution.The last of the 1916 prisoners were released under a general amnesty in June 1917.

Irish opinion on the Easter Rising was not particularly positive as the Rising was happening, but the British made a grave miscalculation when they executed the leaders. The Irish people had a complete 180 degree change in public sentiment when they realized that these 14 men were killed without trial and without any announcements of the executions occurring. What was once a failed rebellion became a mass martyrdom for the Irish people. What was once a primarily Unionist country now became fiercely Republican. The public was furious with the British government for this injustice, and the deaths of these leaders sparked the nation’s move towards independence. Now the Easter Rising is because of the bravery of those involved and to honor those who died in battle or were executed unjustly. The Republic of Ireland is now separated from British control, and this is in no small part due to the events that unfolded at Kilmainham.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

Rae: Kilmainham Gaol was the most unique experience yet so far in Ireland, especially in terms of blog sites. Though all of the sites have been relevant to important history in Ireland, Kilmainham Gaol was by far the most impacting. After learning extensive material on the 1916 Easter Rising, being in the jail where so much began was an experience I will never forget. The jail itself was haunting and gray with little natural light. We went to the upper level of the jail to see the cells where all the leaders of the 1916 Rising were kept, which were modest and unadorned. Coming to the end of the tour outside was sobering to realize we were standing where so many powerful people were executed. This site finalized all the historical facts and lessons we had learned thus far, which has still proved to be valuable in encountering Ireland in everyday life.

Isaac: Visiting Kilmainham was a great experience. I did not entirely know what to expect when we arrived, but I was looking forward to learning more about the jail and experiencing the space where the leaders of the 1916 Rising were held and executed. Upon first entering the jail, we were lead to the museum where we were able to read some of the history of the prison and about those who stayed there. One of my favorite experiences from the day was walking through the hall containing the letters from those executed to their lovers and family. It was powerful to see what these men wrote and what they gave to those they loved before they were killed by the British power. It is interesting to look at it from a future perspective, knowing how the executions caused a ripple effect of nationalism among the Irish people which eventually led to the treaty and independence of Ireland.

Erin: This was my second visit to Kilmainham Gaol, my first visit being back in 2012. I had visited around the Easter holidays that time as well, but the atmosphere was very different this time. Four years may not seem to make a big difference, but this year was the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. That really put things in perspective. When I toured the prison this time, I actually had a grasp on what the guide was telling us and knew who the people she described were. Seeing the cells where the leaders of the Rising were held, standing in the courtyard where they were executed, reading the last words they wrote to their loved ones -- it all became so much more real. I can understand how the executions of the leaders caused such high emotions and set the nation on fire for their freedom.

Grace: Kilmainham Gaol was a sobering experience for me. This is a place where the executions of the 1916 leaders happened, and this is where the nation of Ireland as we know it today began its largest movement to become independent. So much history and tragedy has happened inside these walls-- how can I possibly put into words how overwhelming that is? I stood on the spot where 13 individual men were taken, blindfolded, and then shot to death. I saw the crosses, I saw the plaque commemorating the victims, and I suddenly felt very small in the world. 100 years ago this happened, and the men didn’t know if their cause would ever be successful. I can imagine them smiling on the Easter Rising Celebrations from heaven because all of this fanfare was taking place in a free country. So much to process from this visit.