Ireland’s capital city witnessed heroic deeds and remarkable social change over its history, it holds stories of great ideas of freedom and solidarity but also of clashing cultures and world-views. This unique tour will focus on the changes that Dublin and Ireland went through over 100 years, between the mid 19th and mid 20th century.
At first glance, in the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Dublin looked relatively successful. But the first glance was deeply misleading. The reality was harsh and brutal. Infant mortality, hunger, crime and alcoholism, even among children, were ever present. Life in Dublin was not a fairy tale. The situation got tragic when the staple crop for most of the Irish poor – potatoes – was destroyed by a disease for several years in a row. The Potato Famine changed Ireland forever. About 1 million of its people died of starvation and diseases that followed after, and about two million left in a desperate search for a better life. It proved to be a watershed moment also for Irish national aspirations and accelerated changes in people’s mentality. They were ready to fight and shed blood for their ultimate goal – independence. This will be the story of these people, the story of desperation, struggle and faith.
The tour will give you an overview of the history of the Irish struggle for independence – over the centuries, its people committed themselves to a myriad of sacrifices in the name of shared ideals. The dozens of lost uprisings ended up with the Easter Rising of 1916, which led to the War of Independence. Starting the tour at the General Post Office which became the headquarters of the insurgents, we will tell you what motivated them to take action, we will visit the Garden of Remembrance, a memorial to those who died for the state’s freedom. We will tell you what Sinn Féin is, and how it was formed. We will explain what impact did the Great Famine have on society, and finally tell you why theatre and actors were so influential in the drive for independence.
Join us on a walk in the Irish rebels’ footsteps, to get a better understanding of what their ideas and beliefs were, but also to understand the modern city of Dublin. Join us and see the city through the eyes of Ireland’s freedom fighters!
During this 2,5 hour tour you will see:
- General Post Office
- Garden of Remembrance
- St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral
- Custom House
- Famine Memorial
