A statue of O'Connell (aka: Pigeon Head Wilson)
Day 2 started off with a quick walk into the city centre via O'Connell Street and past our favorite statue, shown above. We grabbed a bite to eat at Elephant and Castle in Temple Bar. It was excellent with the best scrambled eggs and hashbrowns ever. I must remember to add some Thyme to my potatoes.
We headed back to the hotel after, where we were to be picked up for a tour outside of the city. We waited for about 1/2 hour at the hotel and then I called to see what had happened. They had never marked our booking down, but we were to get a discount for a tour the next day. So, we decided to head to Kilmainham Gaol...
Kilmainham Gaol Entrance
Kilmainham Gaol-Older Portion
Kilmainham Gaol- Only light came through window at upper right
Kilmainham Gaol- With 19th century renovation of older portion
Kilmainham Gaol- Newer Portion
The Kilmainham Gaol has a decent museum that we were able to look around before the guided tour that explained a lot of the conditions and inhabitants of the prison. It was built in 1796 and had a few additions and renovations until it was abandoned as a prison in 1924 by the Irish Free State. It was overcrowded as soon as it opened with each cell intended for use by one person, but holding many more than that. There was no heat and no glazing on the windows. The open air concept was supposed to be restorative to the inmate.
It is seen as a very unpleasant place as many of it's prisoner's were political and jailed for there parts in uprisings against the rule of England.
You might recognize the newer portion as being used in a number of films, including In the Name of the Father.
Outside Guinness Storehouse
Guinness Storehouse Museum
Guinness with Elaborate Cloverleaf in Head
We headed over to the Guinness Storehouse after the Gaol and toured their extensive museum. The end of the self-guided tour was at the very top of the renovated factory where we each received a complimentary drink. Nathan's had a cloverleaf on it.
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