Tuesday, April 30th: Dublin adventures!

Our Bus!

Our second full day in Dublin was jam packed with exciting adventures! After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we jumped aboard a hop on tour bus and went on our merry way!

Jail Cell Door at the Jail

The first sight we saw was the Kilmainham Jail Museum. Once a famous prison, it played an important role in the Irish Rebellion, as many rebels were held and killed here after arrest. The museum gave a sobering look at an often idealized part of Irish history. Because we were able to see the jail cells, the church inside the jail and the living quarters, it gave a unique insite on what it was like to be jailed.

It was here we learned the history of the Irish flag, otherwise known as the Irish tricolour. All of the colors represent a specific group of people during the time of Ireland being seen as separate from Britain. The orange represents the people who supported King William III, and derives itself from King William III being form the House of Orange. Green represents the Protestant people of Ireland, deriving itself from St. Patrick, as Britain was predominately Catholic at the time. The white between the two represents a lasting truce between the two types of people and a hope of peace. All three colours together as a whole represent the many peoples of Ireland and the hope for peace between the people on the Island, no matter what ethnic, religious, or political background a person has. 

The class also learned a lot about the specific architecture of this jail. Kilmainham was one of the first jails to use a design that allowed guards to get a panoramic view of the main area (see in the photo below) from any given point throughout the room. In the middle, there was a staircase that the guards will use, while near the back of the jail, there was a spiral staircase for the prisoners to use. It is thought that this used just for prisoners as it is very difficult to run up or down a spiral staircase, thus making it difficult to escape if the moment arose. 

Main Area in the Jail

Inner Courtyard at the Jail

After the tour, we went down to Temple Bar for lunch. The group was permitted to split into smaller groups and go where they wanted for lunch. It was fantastic to explore the city a bit on our own, and it allowed us to really get a taste of Dublin.

Fun Palm Tree Chairs Near Temple Bar

The Original Temple Bar

Trinity College Library

We then went to Trinity College, one of Ireland's premiere schools. At the college, we were lucky enough to be able to see the Book of Kells. This historic book was one of the first times all four gospel books where bound together, and the size made it so it could be easily transported. By looking at the book, it was very easy to see its significants in Irish history. The Irish have a rich history thats interwoven with its religious background, and the Book of Kells made it so the messages could be spread all throughout Ireland.


Above the museum for the Book of Kells, there was Trinity College's Long Room, which was quite literally a stunning long hall of shelves of books. Walking in, the class, along with many other visitors, were stunned into a brief moment of silence of the true awe of this room. The rows of books were also lined with stone busts of many famous writers over time, such as Aristotle and Jonathan Swift. 

The Long Room

Staircase in the Long Hall

Sitting at Cafe en Seine 

Later that evening, the class went to Cafe en Seine for dinner. This fine dinning establishment made Dublin's traditional food with a modern twist. Afterwards, we were allowed our first free night in Dublin, which was exciting. 

Top sights (Click for more info!) : 

1. Kilmainham Jail Museum

2. Temple Bar

3. Trinity College

The fancy decor at Cafe en Seine