In real time, we arrived home safely today. But for the purposes of this log, we’re back exploring Cork and western Ireland and grateful for the company and transportation provided by Kate’s friends.
Our first night in Cork was interrupted by someone, presumably a drunkard, pulling a fire alarm. We got back to sleep easily enough, but the 3:30 am wake up was not fun. Thankfully the day itself was much better. First stop was the Cork Gaol, an impressive stone facility that imprisoned people for largely poverty related crimes. It was also overstuffed during the Irish civil war. The design of the main chambers actually represented an improvement over the dank corridors of older facilities. However, the philosophy of the time emphasized silence and solitude which may help prevent recidivist training but on the other hand probably breaks many of the people punished under such a system. We close out the pictures with some overhead views of Cork.
If we ever manage to pull off prison reform in the States I suspect future generations may visit a new crop of jail museums spread throughout much of the U.S. The exhibits will probably point out the absurdities in our current system and we’ll be earnestly or snarkily knocked by the visitors. Sen. Webb has been doing some good work on these issues, here’s hoping we get these museums sooner rather than later.
Question for any commenters: Am I the only one that tends to actively try to plan escapes when visiting museum jails and the like? Does everyone do it?
Comments