Day 4 - 3/11

 Today, we started our journey at the Garda Síochána Memorial Garden, a quiet and beautiful space honoring the officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. From there, we went to the Garda Museum, tucked inside Dublin Castle. Learning about Sir Robert Peel, the man behind modern policing, was fascinating—especially realizing that the nickname “Bobbies” for British police actually comes from his first name! It’s crazy how much influence one person can have on law enforcement worldwide.

After the museum, we toured the Dublin Castle. Built in 1204, it’s seen centuries of history unfold within its walls. One of the coolest parts was the Powder Towers, where they used to store gunpowder. The whole day was a mix of reflection and discovery, and we couldn’t help but appreciate how Dublin’s past still shapes so much of the present. There’s something special about standing in places where history happened, and today was a reminder of just how much there is to learn from it. We got to see where the giant royalty feasts and parties took place which goes to show how much they honor their traditions.

The last stop of the day was to the Kilmainham Gaol, also known as the Kilmainham jail. The jail opened in August of 1796 where men, women, and children were held. It was interesting to see and hear about the conditions of how the inmates were locked away and lived their daily lives. Many of the people housed in the jail were executed by the firing squad and hangings due to treason and the rebellion of the Irish people to the British government.

Ashley, Alexis W., & Kennedi