by Seán Lawless
6/07/2010
The July 2010 outing of the C-A-R group brought 40 members to Kilmainham Jail Dublin.
The visit began with an Audio Visual presentation, covering the History of the building which opened in 1796 and operated for 130 years until its closure in 1926.
Dublin"s Kilmainham Goal was the most infamous prison in Ireland where the countries greatest rebels were imprisoned and many of them executed, today it stands as the largest unoccupied jail in Europe.
Public hangings were carried out here and as you enter the building your attention is drawn to the balcony over the front door which shows a gibbet used for these hangings.
The jail was particularly crowded during the potato famine of the 1840"s. Many civilians committed petty crimes ( such as stealing bread) so they would be convicted and imprisoned as this was the only way to be assured regular food. This led to overcrowding with as many as 9,000 prisoners held in 400 cells (on average 22 persons per cell)
Famous names associated with Kilmainham Jail are Robert Emmet who was held until his execution in Thomas Street following the failed rebellion in 1803, Charles Stewart Parnell spent six months there in 1881 for his activities in the land league. The next significant prisoners were the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, fourteen of whom were executed.
We visited cells and got a feel for the size and coldness and could sense the ghosts of the past and unsettled spirits of men who died before they reached their prime.
We visited the Stonebreakers Yard and the name says it all except to say that this is where the executions took place, there is a plaque on the wall commemorating the names of the fourteen men, as they were called out one name registered Con Colbert aged 28years. In our group is Michael Colbert ( retired MD of Gowan Dist.) and after a chat over lunch I found that I was in VIP company, as Michael is a nephew of Con Colbert. Con was single and living in Dublin and worked in Kennedys Bakery Parnell St as an accountants clerk, Con was studying to become an accountant by attending night school. He was "lifted" on Easter Sunday as a "defender" (leader) based at the strategic Watkins Brewery Marrowbone Lane Dublin. Michael has been very generous informing me with this information. A special word of thanks also for our tour guide Shane Kenna who was excellent.
At lunch in the nearby Hilton Hotel our President Jim Barton welcomed the return of our convenor Bob Prole and thanked also Peter Lynch for organising and planning the day.
Bob Prole announced the next outing will take place on Aug 24th with a visit to Strokestown House,Gardens and Famine Museum. It is planned to travel by train to Longford and then on by bus to Strokestown.
Members are advised to log onto the web site www.contact-after-retirement.com where they visit the photo gallery and keep up to date by using the planner, getting the latest information on outings.
Members were also advised to log onto the web site www.contact-after-retirement.com where they can view photo's taken on the day by clicking the "gallery" and they can keep themselves up to date with the "planner" indicating forthcoming dates such as August 24th visit to Strokestown House.
S.L.