The damp seeps into your lungs, into your bones, and creeps slowly into your mind. The light from a nearby window provides the only illumination. The musty smell of weather-worn limestone tempts your lungs to restrict or be subject to the heavy air and moldy breath of the Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, Ireland.
I listen as the tour guide explains the situation for the unfortunate denizens of this Victorian age jail. The thinking of the day regarded sin as sin and crime as crime so that a boy of 7 served a term with 'equal' treatment for riding a bus without a ticket alongside other more sinister criminals. Additionally, the three S's were developed as a formula for reforming criminals into law-abiding, God-fearing citizens. Solitude. Silence. Surveillance. These three factors guaranteed that in every moment of every day, each prisoner (men, women, children) was under the never-sleeping 'eye' of the guards, required to remain perfectly silent, and work, sleep, pray and eat in specially constructed isolation boxes or by the use of specially designed hats to discourage wandering eyes.
Until, of course, the jail became full and they had to put 5 men to a one-man room. The rooms are empty, save a bucket which is used for obvious reasons but then dumped and re-used for the less obvious reason of carrying food for the prisoners back to the cell. The reality of the circumstance hits home as I imagine how the prisoners had to lie on the cold limestone floor in the dead of an Irish winter for a night's rest and wake up to the dismal walls and the ever-watchful eye of the guards. How resilient is humankind? How is such misery tolerated?
Famous for housing the Irish Republican prisoners of the Easter rising, this jail is also credited by many as the birthplace of the Republic of Ireland. A few men and women in the early 20th century felt that Ireland should be free of British rule altogether and not merely given autonomy. They were not terribly popular in Dublin. They staged a week-long assault in Dublin, called the Easter Rising, read the newly drafted Irish constitution, and made a plea to the Irish people to join the cause. They were subsequently overtaken by the British forces, sentenced to Kilmainham until their execution for high treason.
14 of them were executed by firing squad in the stone-yard of Kilmainham. Well-known Irish heros such as James Connolly, Patrick Pearse, Joseph Plunkett, Thomas Clarke, and others. Connolly, unable to walk due to an infected injury, was brought to the yard by ambulance, tied to a chair and shot. The crosses in these yards mark the spots where they fell. After word got out about their executions, the public opinion turned in their favor and the Irish Republican movement caught fire. Eventually, the Anglo-Irish agreement was signed, giving 26 out of 32 (yep, the 6 counties not included are now Northern Ireland) relative freedom. The movement split...did they die for partial freedom and a partial Ireland? But did so many more have to die-- and could not a solution be eventually found through peace? So went the arguments.
The 26 counties did become what they are today through relatively peaceful and political means. The debates continue about what kind of Ireland the visionaries fought for, through violent or nonviolent means, as it is important that both were always present. Some of the men condemned to die for their part in the Easter Rising were pardoned and freed. Men like De Valera famously continued on in politics.
In an interview with a less well-known Irish Republican, the reporter asked, "What did you feel after you were pardoned and freed?" He responded, "Somewhat disappointed. I know that may sound strange, but I was never more prepared to meet my Maker as I was then." I was not expecting that but after thinking about it, I suppose it makes sense. Those who participated in the Easter Rising knew and fully believed that they would either die on that day or be executed shortly after. They were committed to die for the cause and to live to see it continue? Well, that was not expected either.
As for the jail, it was closed down in 1924 and left for ruin. Some of the former prisoners organized a restoration society and preserved it as an important site for Ireland for generations to come. You may recognize the jail, as it has been used in several movies, including In the Name of Our Father starring Daniel Day Lewis. I recommend that you see the film, but also drop by the dreary Kilmainham Gaol if you ever find yourself in Dublin.
4 comments:
"did they die for partial freedom and a partial Ireland?"
In there own words - The Proclamation of Independence.
"We declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible. The long usurpation of that right by a foreign people and government has not extinguished the right, nor can it ever be extinguished except by the destruction of the Irish people."
"Until our arms have brought the opportune moment for the establishment of a permanent National, representative of the whole people of Ireland and elected by the suffrage's of all her men and women."
These men made no mistake when writing the Proclamation Of Independence. They believed strongly in armed opposition against Britain, they gave their lives for the unity of Ireland not partition.
Subjective essay! Their is no question as to what these men stood for or wanted.
Padraig Pearce, Easter rising leader said "To break the connection with England, the never-failing source of all our political evils, and to assert the independence of my country—these were my objects. To unite the whole people of Ireland,".
The Proclamation of Independence was sold out the day the free state signed away the 6 counties, it lost its meaning and its objective, sold out by the same kind of people who spat at those men partaking in the 1916 rising.
All that is left is piece of paper with signatures of men that shared a dream. No one can claim it.
The question was meant to imply the answer of "No, in fact. They did not."
I admire the courage, vision, and sacrifice of the Irish Republicans but I also acknowledge the legitimacy of the other opinions of Irish men and women who did not agree that continuing violent conflict, or violent conflict at all, was the best or only solution to an unfortunate and oppressive situation. I am not Irish and my most subjective essay will ultimately reflect my personal interpretation.
I enjoyed the day very much:)
Your opinion is always valued. Its a very good blog post.
The post-blog comments were nearly as informative and interesting as the blog itself! Good to see well-informed people write with conviction about such a deep-touching topic.
I agree with Kevin's assessment that this was both well done and interesting. I am currently teaching my students Dicken's A Tale of Two Cities (wish I could punctuate that properly), and we just today discussed the 18th century British mentality of punishing 75% of the country's crimes by death--brutal deaths at that! It is interesting to hear how the histories intersect and inform each other.
I also feel priviledged to have a connection to both you and Kevin to learn about Ireland's historical past. It has strengthened my teaching and enlightened my understanding of the historical significance of Ireland's role in world events.
Tomorrow I begin teaching "A Modest Proposal" by Swift! I finally get to share all that I experienced and learning in Ireland. Any interesting articles or short videos you could send my way would be much appreciated!
Much love, as always
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