Kilmainham Goal
Kilmainham Gaol was built in 1796. As with all prisons of its era, it has a long and dark history of suffering and misery. In its time it housed men, women and even children - often incarcerated with up to as many as 5 people in one cell and with no segreation. The unfortunate prisoners were provided only a single candle for light and heat which had to last for up to two weeks. Its past, not surprisingly, also included public hangings.
Many of the executions associated with the 1916 Easter rising took place here by firing squad. Half the squad had been supplied with blank bullets, half with live ammunition. This so that nobody would ever know if they were one of the ones responsible for taking a life of a fellow Irishman.
All the executions were deplorable but some in particular captured the imagination – and deep condemnation - of the public.
James Connolly had been badly injured during the fighting. While he had no more than a day or two to live an execution order was still given. So weak was he that he was unable to stand before the firing squad; he was carried to a prison courtyard on a stretcher. Instead of being marched to the same spot where the others had been executed, at the far end of the execution yard, he was tied to a chair at the other end and then shot.
His absolution and last rites were administered by Father Aloysius Travers. Asked to pray for the soldiers about to shoot him, Fr Aloysius said: "I will say a prayer for all men who do their duty according to their lights."
Another of the rebels, Joseph Mary Plunkett had been engaged to Grace Gifford. Their wedding had been planned for that same Easter week. They did get married, but in the prison chapel just hours before his execution.
A cross at one end of the gaol yard mark where the 1916 executions took place, except for that of James Connolly. He was executed at the other end of the yard, also marked by a cross.
The executions of all the rebel leaders deeply angered the majority of the Irish population, but it was Connolly's execution that caused the most outrage. The manner of execution of Connolly and the other rebels created public awareness and support of their desires, goals and elevated the ideals of these Irishmen's fight for freedom. Thus, although unsuccessful, it was the 1916 Easter Rising that is credited with being instrumental in setting off the process that ended with the establishment of the Irish Free State which occurred later in 1922.
Kilmainham Gaol was decommissioned as a prison by the Irish Free State government in 1924
Many of the executions associated with the 1916 Easter rising took place here by firing squad. Half the squad had been supplied with blank bullets, half with live ammunition. This so that nobody would ever know if they were one of the ones responsible for taking a life of a fellow Irishman.
All the executions were deplorable but some in particular captured the imagination – and deep condemnation - of the public.
James Connolly had been badly injured during the fighting. While he had no more than a day or two to live an execution order was still given. So weak was he that he was unable to stand before the firing squad; he was carried to a prison courtyard on a stretcher. Instead of being marched to the same spot where the others had been executed, at the far end of the execution yard, he was tied to a chair at the other end and then shot.
His absolution and last rites were administered by Father Aloysius Travers. Asked to pray for the soldiers about to shoot him, Fr Aloysius said: "I will say a prayer for all men who do their duty according to their lights."
Another of the rebels, Joseph Mary Plunkett had been engaged to Grace Gifford. Their wedding had been planned for that same Easter week. They did get married, but in the prison chapel just hours before his execution.
A cross at one end of the gaol yard mark where the 1916 executions took place, except for that of James Connolly. He was executed at the other end of the yard, also marked by a cross.
The executions of all the rebel leaders deeply angered the majority of the Irish population, but it was Connolly's execution that caused the most outrage. The manner of execution of Connolly and the other rebels created public awareness and support of their desires, goals and elevated the ideals of these Irishmen's fight for freedom. Thus, although unsuccessful, it was the 1916 Easter Rising that is credited with being instrumental in setting off the process that ended with the establishment of the Irish Free State which occurred later in 1922.
Kilmainham Gaol was decommissioned as a prison by the Irish Free State government in 1924
A brief slide show below for you to check out (should, of course, you actually be interested in doing so). The cells where the rebels were housed are marked with the name of the prisoner. I only show one (Willie Pearse) as an illustration.