Smithfield

Today we learned about morning traffic🚦in Dublin. ☺️ We started our day touring the Kilmainham Gaol. There is a lot of Irish history tied to the long fight for independence. This gaol first opened 1796 and finally closed in 1924. You might recognize an image or two from one of several movies that shot scenes there ex: The Italian Job (original), Michael Collins, Ripper Street (tv series).
https://www.kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie/

The original building was individual cells and the later addition, built in Victorian times, was designed with a central courtyard which made it much easier for guards to monitor everyone.

We then headed into more central Dublin to see the GPO building which was a central location for the 1916 Easter Rising. You can still see where bullets damaged the large stone columns at the front of the building.

Found a nice little spot for a filling lunch of cottage pie, roasted potatoes, veg and an eclair to finish. Yum!!

On our way to 14 Henrietta Street, we found The Kings Inn Pub. Time for a pint! 🍺

While the rich lived on Henrietta Street in the beginning, things changed dramatically after the British moved the Irish govt to London. The wealthy land owners who served in Parliament moved to London as well. The now empty homes were bought up by individuals who converted them into tenaments. The home at 14 Henrietta had 17 families living in the space. One family per room. In the 1911 census there were 100 people at this address where before it housed one wealthy family for part of the year and was closed up the rest. 😳

The last person to move out...finally...was in 1979. The room is exactly as it was for her. She was born there and eventually it became hers when she married and had her own family of 4 children. The partial walls helped to create rooms inside the room.

After that we both needed a pint! Well, a half pint for me. My first ever Guinness. I had mine, however, with blackcurrant. It was lovely!

We wrapped our day with a drive out to Howth, a coastal town. The rain and wind set in so we saw a bit of the ocean and had a fine seafood dinner at The Bloody Stream.

Tomorrow: the last day touring Dublin.

1. Walking through a park to get to the Gaol.
2. Look at how worn the steps are from over 125 years of use.
3. and 4. The original cells and halls. It was cold, damp and breezy. Yikes it must have been awful!
5. and 6. The addition built in Victorian times was much brighter and less gloomy.
7. But they sure must of been some short people!
8. Zoom in. This was where they say for mug shots to be taken. The wedge in the middle of the chair is interesting. 😆
9. The courtyard and wall political prisoners were stood in front of before being executed by a 12 man firing squad.
10. and 11. The GPO building and a close up showing the damaged columns.
12. A view of Henrietta Street
13. - 15. A family of 6 lived in these 3 spaces....originally 1 room in the home.
16. The Garden of Rememberence for those who fought for Irish freedom.
17. First ever Guinness
18. Howth Castle built in mid 15th century. https://howthcastle.ie/about/history/
19. Us with the winds whipping!
20. A pint and a cozy fire to wrap the day.Read more