Day 1 - Dublin
Today officially began the Leadership and Entrepreneurship travel study in Dublin with the group. I managed to wake up at a decent hour despite the continued jet lag. After breakfast at the hotel I went for a walk to discover a different area of the city and get some much-needed steps in an attempt to combat the barrage of meat and potato meals. It was quiet and peaceful on a Sunday morning, a welcomed contrast to the raucousness of Temple Bar. You really notice the small details when there is an absence of noise pollution and your mind is at optimal performance. Dublin is a bit dreary with its gray skies and you can feel the lingering anguish of its history in the air; however, there is a coziness and authenticity about it that pulls you in. Absorbing the modern-day Dublin all morning was the perfect precursor to our first organized group function of the trip - a tour of Kilmainham Gaol (pronounced "jail").
Kilmainhaim Gaol was a sobering experience. There is so much pain and suffering associated with this cold, damp structure of stone and steel. Our tour guide, Shauna, was a great storyteller. Informative and passionate, she led us through the significance of many temporary residents and, in most cases, the gruesome details that led to their demise. From Joseph Plunkett and Grace Gifford, who were only married for ten minutes before Joseph was executed, to public hangings which served as a form of public entertainment for up to 30 minutes while they slowly died, this jail oversaw the suffering of most of the significant figures in Irish history that led to its independence. One poignant moment was reading the actual letter from a teenage boy penned shortly before his execution. The raw emotion captured by the words of an adolescent as he pleads to see his mother one last time before death was eerie. You could feel the sadness and desperation leaping off of the page. The theme that stuck out most among the myriad stories of firing squads and horrid treatment of prisoners was the conviction of the Irish people. They were steadfast in their effort for independence from the British and never seemed to waiver, even when they were certain they would lose their lives. This commitment and sacrifice of many, many people is beyond admirable. In my first visit to Dublin, I didn't visit Kilmainham but I'm actually glad I waited until this visit. The impact was far greater with the perspective I have now rather than where I was ten years ago.
Upon leaving Kilmainham, the group stopped at the Guinness Storehouse to tour the facility and have a pint at the Gravity Bar, which has a 360 degree view of Dublin. This was my second visit and, while not much has changed in ten year, the company of the group made it worth going again. Spending more time with each and every one has been a great experience and I'm grateful for the experience. There are so many talented and wonderful people on this trip, it is enhancing the journey with each and every conversation. A brief stop at a pub afterward for a snack and pint, we headed to dinner at Gallaghers Boxty in Temple Bar. It was a nice three course meal in a cozy underground floor of the pub eating their specialty, a potato pancake filled with beef and gravy called a boxty. We were joined by Jan and his wife, Jacquie, for an evening of great conversation with the entire group. Jacquie has done an amazing job planning the itinerary for this trip. After planning and executing a six week jaunt in Asia, I know firsthand how much work is involved. And to do it for 12 people across Ireland and Northern Ireland, I'm thankful for her Jan's effort and diligence in organizing what appears to be a great week ahead! Looking forward to another fun and busy day tomorrow.
Kilmainhaim Gaol was a sobering experience. There is so much pain and suffering associated with this cold, damp structure of stone and steel. Our tour guide, Shauna, was a great storyteller. Informative and passionate, she led us through the significance of many temporary residents and, in most cases, the gruesome details that led to their demise. From Joseph Plunkett and Grace Gifford, who were only married for ten minutes before Joseph was executed, to public hangings which served as a form of public entertainment for up to 30 minutes while they slowly died, this jail oversaw the suffering of most of the significant figures in Irish history that led to its independence. One poignant moment was reading the actual letter from a teenage boy penned shortly before his execution. The raw emotion captured by the words of an adolescent as he pleads to see his mother one last time before death was eerie. You could feel the sadness and desperation leaping off of the page. The theme that stuck out most among the myriad stories of firing squads and horrid treatment of prisoners was the conviction of the Irish people. They were steadfast in their effort for independence from the British and never seemed to waiver, even when they were certain they would lose their lives. This commitment and sacrifice of many, many people is beyond admirable. In my first visit to Dublin, I didn't visit Kilmainham but I'm actually glad I waited until this visit. The impact was far greater with the perspective I have now rather than where I was ten years ago.
Upon leaving Kilmainham, the group stopped at the Guinness Storehouse to tour the facility and have a pint at the Gravity Bar, which has a 360 degree view of Dublin. This was my second visit and, while not much has changed in ten year, the company of the group made it worth going again. Spending more time with each and every one has been a great experience and I'm grateful for the experience. There are so many talented and wonderful people on this trip, it is enhancing the journey with each and every conversation. A brief stop at a pub afterward for a snack and pint, we headed to dinner at Gallaghers Boxty in Temple Bar. It was a nice three course meal in a cozy underground floor of the pub eating their specialty, a potato pancake filled with beef and gravy called a boxty. We were joined by Jan and his wife, Jacquie, for an evening of great conversation with the entire group. Jacquie has done an amazing job planning the itinerary for this trip. After planning and executing a six week jaunt in Asia, I know firsthand how much work is involved. And to do it for 12 people across Ireland and Northern Ireland, I'm thankful for her Jan's effort and diligence in organizing what appears to be a great week ahead! Looking forward to another fun and busy day tomorrow.
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