The Killmainham Gaol (jail) in Dublin is one of those places that overwhelms you the moment you step through the doorway. The torment and utter misery of the people who lived and died there is almost too much to take in. Between the time it opened in 1796 and closed in 1924 the concentration of suffering contained in those walls left an indelible stain on the fabric of humanity. Originally designed as an upgrade over the inhumane dungeons being used to house prisoners it ultimately proved to be little better. Overcrowding was a constant issue, especially during the famine in the 1840s when begging was made illegal, as at least 5 men had to share 8x10 cells while the women and children (yes, as young as 5 years old) slept on straw covered stone hallways outside the cells. The lucky ones were sent to Australia on some of the few boats that were promised to alleviate the crowding while most others were left to die from disease or starvation. In 1916 most of the leaders of the E...
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