Today, our study abroad group ventured into Dublin, which is in the Republic of Ireland. This was our first time heading outside of Northern Ireland (also known as North of Ireland) and it was interesting to technically be in a different country for the day. We went to see the General Post Office, which is a post office – turned museum in the heart of Dublin. It commemorates the Easter Rising of 1916, a turning point in Irish history. 

As we approached the museum we got our first look into what took place during the Easter Rising: bullet holes, still scarring the outside of the building. Once inside, we went on a solo auditory tour to look at the timeline of the Easter Rising. During the early 1900s, the area around the General Post Office was suffering from intense poverty and was classified as one of the worst places to live in the United Kingdom. The infant mortality rate was incredibly high – 147 out of 1,000 infants did not survive past one year old – and British occupation was suffocating. This led to the forming of nationalist groups, which were made up of Irish people who wanted Ireland to have home rule or to be completely free of British rule. As we walked through the museum, we learned about the planning, execution, and results of the Easter Rising. The headquarters of the nationalists leaders was in the General Post Office, which is where they planned out their revolt against British rule. 

This was a fascinating era to focus on, as it is a good demonstration of the longevity of liberation movements. The Easter Rising was not actually successful right away; the British army beat the nationalists after many casualties. That being said, we learned that this was just the beginning of the modern Irish movement for independence. A timeline in the museum laid out events from the end of the Easter Rising to 2016. This is also a good example of the theory of transgenerational trauma. Transgenerational trauma is trauma – the response to something awful happening – that is passed down through generations. This can be through genetics, experiences, or both. In any violent revolt, trauma is inevitable, but when the fight for independence is ongoing, transgenerational trauma is likely to occur. The fight for Irish independence has spanned generations, from the Easter Rising in 1916 to The Troubles starting in 1968 and ending in 1998. The constant violence and threat of violence combined with many different sides experiencing loss and looming British rule would result in biological effects on the families involved. This is passed down through generations and as generations keep experiencing trauma, the cycle will continue. 

While this is an upsetting reality, visiting the General Post Office (and other lessons we’ve learned throughout our time here) has taught us something else: that peace and justice is possible and the process has already started. After this educational visit to the museum, our group got to explore the surrounding areas and see Dublin city life.