Day Eight- Kilmainham Gaol

We started off the day touring the Kilmainham Gaol (jail). This is probably one of the most important sites in the Republic of Ireland.

Many political leaders leading the fight for Irish Independence were imprisoned and executed here.

It was due to these execution that united the Irish in the effort to gain independence from Britain.

When the fighting for Irish independence first began there was not a lot of support. However, as the troubling stories behind these executions came out the Irish people banned together.




This is the memorial to the leaders that signed Ireland's Declaration of Independence. Unlike our forefathers in the United States, when these men signed this declaration it was an absolute guaranteed death warrant.




Thomas Clark. Executed May 3, 1916 at age 59.

Clark was one of the men to sign the Irish Declaration of Independence. As a result he was sentenced to death.

Before his death his younger brother requested to see him one last time. This request was granted. However, after Clark's execution his brother was imprisoned. Without provocation he was later executed.




Joseph Plunkett. Executed May 4, 1916 at 28 years of age.

Another signer of Ireland's Declaration of Independence.

Five hours before his execution Plunkett was able to marry his sweetheart Grace Gifford.

Once married they were allowed five minutes together with a guard in the room before he was executed.




The last execution took place in 1924. This man had not signed the Declaration of Independence but was a rebel leader.

After being shoot he was taken to the hospital due to the development of gangrene in this leg. It spread throughout his body and he was given two days to live. He was sentenced him to death, they wanted to make an example out of him.

By the time of his execution he could no longer walk instead he was taken out in a stretcher and brought into the execution courtyard.

The gangrene has become so bad he could not sit up by himself in the chair. He was tied down to the chair. Then executed.

This last story is what brought the Irish people over the edge and guaranteed their support to the independence fighters.




That cross is the spot of the executions.