Emigration and Prison.

 Woke up to the news that Jim was not feeling well and wouldn’t be joining us today so it was just Kirk and I ate the Emigration Museum.  I didn’t know what to expect but it was really amazing and informative. But first I have to say I really like Dublin.  It’s a walkable city, if not a little chaotic.  It does not have a grid system of streets so it took a while to figure it out and while we still didn’t have it quite down, by day 5 most of us were comfortable with it.  

So, more people of Irish decent live abroad than in Ireland.  1.5 million people left the country during and after the great famine of 1845-50.  Ireland was first established as a free state in 1922 and the first passport for Ireland specifically was issued in 1924.  And while Ireland was considered a neutral territory and some held British passports, they were considered ‘enemy aliens’ during WW2.  The thing is Ireland is proud of their heritage and honest about their shortcomings.  They still have issues with Emigration - the opportunities abroad have outpaced local ones and issues that we faced also had repercussions in Ireland like the 2008 financial crash, and people left for tech in other countries.  

First country to legalize Gay marriage!  And Irish music is long held to be the foundation for Appalachian music.  Many traditional Irish lyrics were changed in America to include cowboys for example.  

Our last lunch, back to Meagher’s pub, which we went to earlier in the week and loved the staff and the food.  Especially the seafood chowder.  Kirk declared today to be a ‘dry’ day in preparation for travel tomorrow.  Here’s how it went.  

😂

Headed back to the room to pack up a bit then met the group for a 2 mile walk to the Kilmainham Gaol, aka prison.  Jim joined us although he wasn’t 100%,  apparently Ed was feeling bad as well.  They were blaming on the pizza from the night before but Dan did not get sick so who knows.  

“This is a prison.  Don’t wander off.  It’s designed to keep you in.”  Open from 1796-1924.  Many important men were housed here that were inspiration or directly involved in Irish independence.  It was solemn in so many ways how young these men were.  Women and children were also kept here. The first ever woman to hold a role in Irish Parliament, Countess Constance Mankiewicz, was held here. She was key in Irelands independence from British rule, was an advocate for workers and women’s rights, and a top notch sniper. 

Jim and Dan declined to join us for dinner.  Jim was still not feeling great.  We went to a beautiful steak house and even then Ed didn’t eat either.  It was a lovely walk and evening to end our 5 days here.