last tuesday my program visited kilmainham gaol (or jail). as ireland fought for its independence from great britain, a ton of political leaders in various rebellions were housed here.
as my tour guide said, "anyone who is anyone in irish history has spent time in this jail."
this was one of my favorite days so far. federal prisons are a really interesting point of reference for a country's political and social history.
for example, i learned that during the potato famine, people purposefully committed crimes just to go to prison because prisons, with federal funds, had more food than much of ireland. also, if you are interested, look up the easter rising of 1916. it is one of the most famous happening in this jail.
and with that, good night!
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