Dublin 2020/21
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KILMAINHAM
GAOL
Inchicore Road, Kilmainham
Dublin 8, D08 RK28
01 4535 984
Kilmainham Gaol Museum
A visit to the clink might not
sound like an appealing
proposition, but Kilmainham
Gaol provides a fascinating
insight into the past. The
largest unoccupied gaol in
Ireland, Kilmainham is located
just three miles from Dublin
city centre, on Inchicore Road.
The 18th-century Victorian
prison throws a bright light
on the legacy of British rule in
Ireland, while the guided tour is
full of interesting facts that give
a sense of just how gruesome
a stretch in Kilmainham really
was. Along the way you’ll get to
see many of the gaol’s rooms,
with the tour culminating in
the exercise yard – the scene
of a great many executions in
bygone years. Kilmainham’s
status in Irish history cannot
be
understated.
Indeed,
the prison held some of the
most notorious political and
military leaders in Irish history.
Leaders of the rebellions of
1798, 1803 and 1867 were
detained within these cold
brick walls. While the facility
was decommissioned as a
jail by the Irish Free State
government in 1924, its current
museum status was assured
by the Office of Public Works.
And it’s a good thing too: the
gaol is simply a must-see
attraction for those interested
in modern Irish history.
