--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was a child and came with my…" description: "\"When I was a child and came with my elders to Galway for their salmon fishing in the river that rushes past the gaol, I used to look with awe at the wi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/lady-gregory-11687_awe_when-i-was-a-child-and-came-with-my-elde_1935186.jpg" --- # When I was a child and came with my elders to Galway for… ![“When I was a child and came with my elders to Galway for their salmon fishing in the river that rushes past the gaol, I used to look with awe at the window where men were hung, and the dark, closed gate.” quote by Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/lady-gregory-11687_awe_when-i-was-a-child-and-came-with-my-elde_1935186.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/lady-gregory-11687_awe_when-i-was-a-child-and-came-with-my-elde_1935186.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/lady-gregory-11687_awe_when-i-was-a-child-and-came-with-my-elde_1935186.jpg) > “When I was a child and came with my elders to Galway for their salmon fishing in the river that rushes past the gaol, I used to look with awe at the window where men were hung, and the dark, closed gate.” [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator recalls childhood awe at grim historical sites, juxtaposing innocence with mortality. **In simple terms:** Childhood fascination with dark history. Key Takeaway Recognize how early experiences shape perception. Themes history mortality childhood reflection Mood nostalgic thoughtful Type historical personal When to use this quote - tourism - education - heritage visits Key Concepts historical awareness psychological imprint Questions to Reflect On - How does this memory affect your view of history? - Do you see any lingering fear? A Different Perspective The memory may romanticize suffering, overlooking its tragedy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awe/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Elders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elders/) [Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fish/) [Fishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishing/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) ## Related quotes > [In writing a little tragedy, 'The Gaol Gate,' I made the scenario in three lines, 'He is an informer; he is dead; he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/in-writing-a-little-tragedy-the-gaol-gate-i-made-the-scenario-in/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [“You have brought your own ideas with you into the gaol,’ Miss Haxby said, after a moment. ‘But our ways at Millbank—as you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/you-have-brought-your-own-ideas-with-you-into-the-gaol-miss-haxby/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [“regret that the court did not come to a different conclusion,” he said a bit stuffily. “Three months in gaol and 150,000 kronor damages.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stieg-larsson/regret-that-the-court-did-not-come-to-a-different-conclusion-he-said/) [Stieg Larsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stieg-larsson/) > [A ship is worse than a gaol. There is, in a gaol, better air, better company, better conveniency of every kind; and a ship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-ship-is-worse-than-a-gaol-there-is-in-a-gaol-better-air-better/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“She knew where they were going. She had visited Kilmainham Gaol before, wrapped in its brooding walls lest the ghosts it housed should break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-murphy/she-knew-where-they-were-going-she-had-visited-kilmainham-gaol-before/) [Peter Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-murphy/) > [“There was a prisoner, I said, in the first cell of the second passage. A fair-haired girl, quite young, quite handsome. What did Miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/there-was-a-prisoner-i-said-in-the-first-cell-of-the-second-passage-a/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [“We know not whether laws be right Or whether laws be wrong All we know who lie in gaol Is that the walls are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/we-know-not-whether-laws-be-right-or-whether-laws-be-wrong-all-we/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Now, before you begin to worry, the section of the gaol that I’m standing in is completely secure. No problems here. I’m not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/now-before-you-begin-to-worry-the-section-of-the-gaol-that-i-m/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“Don't you believe it. I'll tell you what life is. It's gaol, it's not knowing where to get some money. Worms and cataract, cancer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/don-t-you-believe-it-i-ll-tell-you-what-life-is-it-s-gaol-it-s-not/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [“Behind him, the sheep, left to their own devices, decide to wander through the open gate into the field beyond.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-devices-decide-to-wander/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“Go through the gate. Let our love support you through your own self-judgment. Over you the dark shall have no power. Farewell—we release you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-l-paxson/go-through-the-gate-let-our-love-support-you-through-your-own-self/) Diana L. Paxson > [He who wants to do good knocks at the gate: he who loves finds the door open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/he-who-wants-to-do-good-knocks-at-the-gate-he-who-loves-finds-the/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [I use the volume control on my guitar, both for dynamics and as a manual noise gate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-use-the-volume-control-on-my-guitar-both-for-dynamics-and-as-a/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [One of my favorite albums is Bob Gibson and Bob Camp, 'At the Gate of Horn.' It was a really dynamic album, almost like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mcguinn/one-of-my-favorite-albums-is-bob-gibson-and-bob-camp-at-the-gate-of/) [Roger McGuinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mcguinn/) > [That's why there are ten gates to pass through before you reach the garden. If life were easy there would be one gate. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/that-s-why-there-are-ten-gates-to-pass-through-before-you-reach-the/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) ## More by Lady Gregory > [Once in my childhood I had been eager to learn Irish; I thought to get leave to take lessons from an old Scripture-reader who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/once-in-my-childhood-i-had-been-eager-to-learn-irish-i-thought-to-get/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [I don't know in the world why anyone would consent to be a king, and never to be left to himself, but to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/i-don-t-know-in-the-world-why-anyone-would-consent-to-be-a-king-and/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [It was on the first day of Beltaine, that is called now May Day, the Tuatha de Danaan came, and it was to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/it-was-on-the-first-day-of-beltaine-that-is-called-now-may-day-the/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [Napoleon the Third was not much. He died in England, and was buried in a country church-yard much the same as Kiltartan. But Napoleon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/napoleon-the-third-was-not-much-he-died-in-england-and-was-buried-in/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [It was at Inver Slane, to the north of Leinster, the sons of Gaedhal of the Shining Armour, the Very Gentle, that were called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/it-was-at-inver-slane-to-the-north-of-leinster-the-sons-of-gaedhal-of/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [It is the old battle, between those who use a toothbrush and those who don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/it-is-the-old-battle-between-those-who-use-a-toothbrush-and-those-who/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [The time the moon is going back, the blood that is in a person does be weakening, but when the moon is strong, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/the-time-the-moon-is-going-back-the-blood-that-is-in-a-person-does-be/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [What makes Ireland inclined toward the drama is that it's a great country for conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/what-makes-ireland-inclined-toward-the-drama-is-that-it-s-a-great/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [She is a girl would not be afraid to walk the whole world with herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/she-is-a-girl-would-not-be-afraid-to-walk-the-whole-world-with-herself/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [What the Danes left in Ireland were hens and weasels. And when the cock crows in the morning, the country people will always say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/what-the-danes-left-in-ireland-were-hens-and-weasels-and-when-the/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [Every trick is an old one, but with a change of players, a change of dress, it comes out as new as before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/every-trick-is-an-old-one-but-with-a-change-of-players-a-change-of/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [When death comes, it is not enough to have been charitable; and it is not right to touch the body or lay it out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/when-death-comes-it-is-not-enough-to-have-been-charitable-and-it-is/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [Our curses on them that boil the eggs too hard! What use is an egg that is hard to any person on earth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/our-curses-on-them-that-boil-the-eggs-too-hard-what-use-is-an-egg/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [I don't think Ireland has ever had a genius for the novel. Of course, there were plenty of Irish novels, but I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/i-don-t-think-ireland-has-ever-had-a-genius-for-the-novel-of-course/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) > [In the whole course of our work at the theatre we have been, I may say, drenched with advice by friendly people who for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/in-the-whole-course-of-our-work-at-the-theatre-we-have-been-i-may-say/) [Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) [Explore all 58 Lady Gregory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/) ## More Awe quotes > [Because I've never had any higher education of any sort, I've never held in awe those who have had it or have a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/because-i-ve-never-had-any-higher-education-of-any-sort-i-ve-never/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [“I know you deserve better than me. You think I don’t know that? But if there was any woman made for me … it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-know-you-deserve-better-than-me-you-think-i-don-t-know-that-but-if/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [There are certain scenes that would awe an atheist into belief without the help of any other argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/there-are-certain-scenes-that-would-awe-an-atheist-into-belief/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [As we contemplate with reverence and awe how our Savior embraces us, comforts us, and heals us, let us commit to become His hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/as-we-contemplate-with-reverence-and-awe-how-our-savior-embraces-us/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [My journey deep into coma, outside this lowly physical realm and into the loftiest dwelling place of the almighty Creator, revealed the indescribably immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eben-alexander/my-journey-deep-into-coma-outside-this-lowly-physical-realm-and-into/) [Eben Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eben-alexander/) > [Awe combined with intimacy is the essence of Christian worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/awe-combined-with-intimacy-is-the-essence-of-christian-worship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“Oftentimes we call Life bitter names, but only when we ourselves are bitter and dark. And we deem her empty and unprofitable, but only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/oftentimes-we-call-life-bitter-names-but-only-when-we-ourselves-are/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [The laws of nature are the skeleton of the universe. They support it, give it shape, tie it together. Taken as a whole, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-trefil/the-laws-of-nature-are-the-skeleton-of-the-universe-they-support-it/) James Trefil > [When you look at yourself and feel dissatisfaction about any part of you, you will continue to attract feelings of dissatisfaction, because the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/when-you-look-at-yourself-and-feel-dissatisfaction-about-any-part-of/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [“What can we make of the inexpressible joy of children? 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