Religous Education in St. Kevin’s College;

Transiton Year trip to Mountjoy Prison.

On Monday morning we met in Mountjoy at 12.30 pm. When everyone arrived we waited outside until we were greeted by one of the prison wardens who showed us around the prison.

When we went in we were searched and walked through the metal detector. After this we went into the visitor’s room and the warden told us about the history of the prison. He also told us how people got drugs into the prison.

When we left the visitor’s room we went into the prison. We were shown the inside of one of the cells. It was a small room with a bed, TV, CD player and the prisoner’s private possessions.

We also visited rooms like the Hang House and were told about the volunteers that were hung there. We then saw the area where they had been buried. The warden also told us about the day they were removed and had their funerals.

This was a good tour and a good experience because it showed us it would not be a nice place to live, so stay out of trouble. We went to mount joy as part f our religion module in school...

Paul Lowther (Transition Year student)

My class went to Mount joy Prison on the 2^nd February 2009. At half twelve we waited outside the gates of the prison. Then the prison Warden invited us in. He told us the rules of the prison and took our mobile phones, iPods etc as these weren’t allowed inside the prison. We then walked single file in to the security area. We put our stuff through the metal detector one at a time.

We were then brought to a room where the prisoners can meet their visitors, we were also told about the history of Mountjoy. The warden also told us how people try to smuggle drugs into the prison.

Then we were brought into the prison itself. We were shown the layout of the prison. and brought down a wing. We were allowed go into a cell and see how the prisoners lived. We were then escorted to the Hang House. We were told how the executions took place. Then we walked to the site where the executed war of Independence Volunteers were formerly buried.

As part of our tour we tour we spoke to a prisoner called Mark. We asked him questions and he was very friendly and helpful.

We went on this tour as part of our Transition Year course about criminality and punishment. I found the tour informative. It showed the lives of people who had committed crimes.

Stephen Parnell (Transition Year Student)