Friday 15th April Mr Fitzgerald’s Fifth Year History class travelled to Dublin. Students departed the school at 8am as the sun shone. We arrived at the National Museum of Ireland – Collins Barracks to explore the brand new exhibition on the 1916 Rising. We were amazed at the display of prominent artefacts and struck by the poignancy of Padraig Pearse’s last letter to his mother. All students were captivated by the sacrifice of the signatories, devastation to Dublin City and the prominence of women during the rebellion. From there we made our way to Kilmainham Gaol. With a half an hour to spare we strolled around the grounds of the Royal Hospital of Kilmainham which interestingly enough once held the mortgage for Damer House in Roscrea. The architecture and scenery were splendid as we sipped tea and coffee in the local café. The anticipation grew as we waited for our tour guide (Ciara) outside of Kilmainham. We were soon away from the din of traffic and deep inside the halls of the famous jail. Students listened intently to our Guide as she brought alive each section. We stood in Robert Emmet’s cell which was considered comfortable in comparison to the rest of the inmates. Finally we emerged into the stone breakers yard where fourteen of the leaders of the Rising were executed. A surreal moment and stunned silenced sent a shiver down our spines. It was a clear highlight. On the journey home we stopped for refreshments and relaxed. It was a fantastic day for all students.
