We had a very full day on the second day of our pilgrimage. After a hearty breakfast at the hostel, we toured the campus of Trinity College Dublin, where we learned about and saw the Book of Kells. The Long Room (the Old Library) was also very impressive.
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| Before the tour at Trinity College |
After a quick lunch at a deli counter, we hopped on the bus to see Kilmainham Gaol. We learned about the key figures in the Easter Uprising of 1916, who were imprisoned and hanged at the jail. We also learned about the spike in crimes during the Potato Famine of the 1840s, and the subsequent admissions to the jail. It was perhaps better in jail where one could get fed on a daily basis!
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| Touring the storied corridors of Kilmainham Gaol |
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| The jail had a special exhibit commemorating 100 years since the birth of Nelson Mandela. |
In our evening back at the hostel, the day's leaders, Desmond and Andre, prepared a delicious meal of burgers and salad.
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| Dinner's served! |
Afterwards we went for an evening walk along the River Liffey to see the famine memorial, which was quite haunting. We noticed a plaque indicating a Canadian connection; former Prime Minister Jean Chretien was there to dedicate the memorial in 1999. The memorial prompted a reflection on the role refugees from the famine in Ireland played in building Canada, which lead to a further deep conversation about refugees and hunger in our world, as well as inequality, resource distribution, sustainability, and the health of the planet under human influence.
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| One of the sculptures at the famine memorial |
Off to bed to get a good night's rest (mostly) :-)
P.S. We have many excellent photos, but are experiencing difficulties uploading them at the moment.
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