A Day in Dublin
The last trip of our program took us to the island of Ireland. There is a long history here, and there is a lot that I can talk about in terms the struggles that the Irish people have faced in order to get independence from Britain, but over my next few blog posts, I will delve into this.
The week-long adventure began in the capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin. I had visited this city before when I was 15. My cousin had been attending university there at the time so my mom, my brother, and I went over to visit her during spring break. It was a wonderful week that we got to spend with her. We also happened to visit on St Patrick's day, which is not something I recommend for those who dislike crowds. The city gets very rowdy and green, and most of the streets are not filled with locals. If you are visiting Europe and want to be in a lighthearted city on the surface, Dublin is a recommended stop.
We only spent a day here, but it was jam-packed. The purpose of our trip to Ireland as a whole was to learn about ethnicity and conflict, mostly focusing on the North, but first, we needed to understand the Irish struggle. This educational experience started us off at Kilmainham Gaol, which was once the jail for the county of Dulin, but now stands as a museum. Built in the 1700s, this prison saw the struggles that the Irish had during the multiple potato famines. Many people were placed here when they were caught stealing either food or clothes in order to survive. 1,000,000 people died during the Great Potato Famine, and about just as many emigrated to other countries (mostly to the US and Canada). The Goal was originally supposed to hold just over 200 prisoners, but during the height of the famine, it held over 1,000. It was seen as better to be in the prison than on the outside. At least inside, though you were treated poorly, you had food, clothes, and shelter. A lot of then anger was felt by the Irish towards England at this time because they felt that their plight and struggles were ignored, which they were. England should have done way more to give aid to their fellow countrymen. This anger helped to forge feelings that led to the Irish War of Independence.
It's also important to note that the Goal saw the imprisonment and execution of some of the leaders of the Easter Uprising, which took place in 1916 kicked off the war of independence and saw the death of hundreds of people. The leaders of the revolt were taken under arrest and an example was made of them. For their acts of treason, they were shot in the Goal. They became martyrs for the cause, and eventually, the Republic of Ireland seceded from the United Kingdom, except for 6 counties in the North which would later become Northern Ireland.
Another stop of the day was the Book of Kells at Trinity College, University of Dublin. This Irish national treasure dates back to 800 AD and is well preserved by the library there. It's an illustrated collection of the Four Gospels in the New Testament and contains beautiful calligraphy and artwork. Part of the exhibition takes visitors to the historical reading room of Trinity College Library. An amazing room that is filled with leather-bound tomes dating back to the 1100s, it is a great way to get out of the hustle of the tourist areas of Dublin.
We were all pretty tired after our long day, so we planned on calling it a night after seeking out food. My friends and I ended up walking down a random street and found a rowdy pub filled with people celebrating the World Cup, and live Celtic music. If you want the full Irish experience, finding a pub after 6pm is the way to go. Packed with happy people, they are a great way to observe the social culture of Dublin. Other things to see in Dublin are Grafton Stree, which is a pedestrian-only shopping street, and the statue of Molly Malone who is a character from a song with the same name. It's said that those who touch her breast are given good luck. Dublin is a hoot, and the people here are kind and friendly. It is definitely a place to visit if you are going to Europe.
We have luck forever!
The week-long adventure began in the capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin. I had visited this city before when I was 15. My cousin had been attending university there at the time so my mom, my brother, and I went over to visit her during spring break. It was a wonderful week that we got to spend with her. We also happened to visit on St Patrick's day, which is not something I recommend for those who dislike crowds. The city gets very rowdy and green, and most of the streets are not filled with locals. If you are visiting Europe and want to be in a lighthearted city on the surface, Dublin is a recommended stop.
We only spent a day here, but it was jam-packed. The purpose of our trip to Ireland as a whole was to learn about ethnicity and conflict, mostly focusing on the North, but first, we needed to understand the Irish struggle. This educational experience started us off at Kilmainham Gaol, which was once the jail for the county of Dulin, but now stands as a museum. Built in the 1700s, this prison saw the struggles that the Irish had during the multiple potato famines. Many people were placed here when they were caught stealing either food or clothes in order to survive. 1,000,000 people died during the Great Potato Famine, and about just as many emigrated to other countries (mostly to the US and Canada). The Goal was originally supposed to hold just over 200 prisoners, but during the height of the famine, it held over 1,000. It was seen as better to be in the prison than on the outside. At least inside, though you were treated poorly, you had food, clothes, and shelter. A lot of then anger was felt by the Irish towards England at this time because they felt that their plight and struggles were ignored, which they were. England should have done way more to give aid to their fellow countrymen. This anger helped to forge feelings that led to the Irish War of Independence.
It's also important to note that the Goal saw the imprisonment and execution of some of the leaders of the Easter Uprising, which took place in 1916 kicked off the war of independence and saw the death of hundreds of people. The leaders of the revolt were taken under arrest and an example was made of them. For their acts of treason, they were shot in the Goal. They became martyrs for the cause, and eventually, the Republic of Ireland seceded from the United Kingdom, except for 6 counties in the North which would later become Northern Ireland.
Another stop of the day was the Book of Kells at Trinity College, University of Dublin. This Irish national treasure dates back to 800 AD and is well preserved by the library there. It's an illustrated collection of the Four Gospels in the New Testament and contains beautiful calligraphy and artwork. Part of the exhibition takes visitors to the historical reading room of Trinity College Library. An amazing room that is filled with leather-bound tomes dating back to the 1100s, it is a great way to get out of the hustle of the tourist areas of Dublin.
We were all pretty tired after our long day, so we planned on calling it a night after seeking out food. My friends and I ended up walking down a random street and found a rowdy pub filled with people celebrating the World Cup, and live Celtic music. If you want the full Irish experience, finding a pub after 6pm is the way to go. Packed with happy people, they are a great way to observe the social culture of Dublin. Other things to see in Dublin are Grafton Stree, which is a pedestrian-only shopping street, and the statue of Molly Malone who is a character from a song with the same name. It's said that those who touch her breast are given good luck. Dublin is a hoot, and the people here are kind and friendly. It is definitely a place to visit if you are going to Europe.
The above two pictures are in the Gaol. The second one is of one of the main cell blocks. It has often been used in music videos and movies because it is one of the largest unihabitaed spaces. 
The above is part of the Library at Trinity College. It is one of my favourite places in the world and leaves me with awe and inspiration.
We have luck forever!
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