A group of 30, including 11 children left Clonduff Clubrooms on Wednesday 3rd April for a visit to ‘Our Spiritual Headquarters’ Croke Park, which was a first some some of the young people and a first tour for some of the not so young! The guide, Cian Keane entertained us for two hours with informative and hilarious stories. The group is pictured above in the VIP area of the Hogan Stand. This is a trip that everyone of us should undertake sooner rather than later! See our facebook page for an album of photos.
Following a light lunch the group then proceeded to Glasnevin Cemetery and Museum. The first port of call was Daniel O’Connell’s crypt and then on to O’Donovan Rossa’s grave where an actor gave a marvellous performance of Padraig Pearse’s graveside oration at O’Donovan Rossa’s burial in 1915 “. . . but the fools, the fools, the fools! — they have left us our Fenian dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace”. It was then on to the most visited grave in the cemetery – Michael Collins’ before moving into the new museum to view the interactive presentations and timelines as well as the history of burials and the cemetery itself. This too, is a landmark where one could spend many hours absorbing the history of the country from its opening in 1832. Following a welcome cuppa in the new cafe we embarked on the return journey to Hilltown where the day was completed with an evening meal in our own local historical landmark – The Downshire Arms.
