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Location: Dublin, Ireland

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Stop 7: Chapel: mid 19th Century onward

CHAPEL


The position of the chapel was similar at Newgate on Greenstreet, which was built in 1780. There, prisoners also were in the chapel before being led through French doors onto a balcony with a drop platform (see diagram in the chapter on front entrance executions in Kilmainham).

The proximity between the chapel and site of execution may be indicative of the desire of authorities to have prisoners to go to their executions with complicity. Receiving their last rites in the chapel prior to the moment of death, might edify the prisoner.

The doorway through which the prisoners were led is still visible, though the passageway itself has been blocked up.

It was customary to have a mass for the condemned prisoner on the morning of the execution.

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