Kilmainham and a Coffee

IMMA garden detail
Originally uploaded by di_juice.

Hi All,

Went to the Irish Museum of Modern Art today which is on the grounds of the old Royal Hospital built in the 17th century. (This pic shows part of a flower pot in the formal gardens on the hospital grounds.) If you click on the pic, you can see other images of the IMMA and of the Kilmainham Gaol (jail) - one of Ireland's oldest jails which housed many of the politcal prisoners who fought for Irish independence back in the day. There were all sorts of cool primary sources - letters, newspaper clippings, medals, etc... in the Gaol and a guided tour which gave a more in depth history of it's famous prisoners and dubious history.

I read a letter written by an 18 year old boy a few hours before he was executed. It was written to his mother and he keeps saying how much he wishes he could see her face one more time. He was killed for possession of a firearm without a permit. Crazy. It was really interesting to see the human imprint on all of these pieces of history - handwriting, clothing, tattered photographs, shoes, ration cards, etc...It makes all these historical figures real. There was graffiti on the wall taken from a poem written by one of the men executed after the Easter Uprising. "Beware the Risen People, Ye that have harried and held, Ye that have bullied and bribed."

After my adventures in Kilmainham, I met up with Jane, (a friend of a friend who lives here in Dublin) and ended up back in town and had a (good!) coffee in this little cafe and discovered an asian grocery (almost as good as the super 88) and a fabulous used bookstore down an alleyway. I am going through novels like water these days. Got so much time on my hands.

After touring the damp, dark jail, I was so very much appreciating my modern comforts and free reign to wander the city. I've been discovering new things everyday and am compiling a mental list of things to do when I get some visitors. Can't wait for company. Miss you all lots.

Be well.