January 19, 2004

Cork City Gaol was the site of today's explorations. I found this gaol to be much nicer than Kilmainham. Of course, Cork Gaol was newer and looks to have been recently renovated. Some of the more famous prisoners kept there were Frank O'Connor and Constance de Markovich.

The exhibition at the gaol was pretty well done. The guide told us personal stories about some of the prisoners, and then there was an AV show. This slide show did something that a lot of places we've been didn't. It showcased some of the prisoners that no one would remember. One lady, Mary O'Sullivan, was arrested and sentenced to seven years for stealing cloth. Then there was a nine-year-old boy who was arrested for stealing some brass toilet fixtures because he was poor and wanted to pawn them. He had to spend five years at a juvenile correctional facility. At the end of the show a few of these prisoners made a plea not to be forgotten because they were just as much a part of history as the famous people.