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For over 100 years Kilmainham Gaol held thousands of men, women and children for crimes that ranged from minor offences to being involved in some of the most momentous events in Irish history
Kilmainham Gaol (or, as many North Americans might better know it, ‘jail’) in Dublin has been many things. This includes serving as a jail not only for criminals, but political prisoners. As a result of the latter, it’s also the site of many executions, including the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. When you join the tour, your time slot will start by waiting in the courtroom area. Once everything is ready to go, you’ll head off with your group to explore the prison itself. Some of the hallways are still restricted, but offer some nice pictures without other people in them.
While you explore the cells, you’ll get the chance to peer inside the cells to see the conditions. This ranges from small windows to limited space. In some instances, the art drawn on the walls by the prisoners at the time. Below is a Madonna was painted by Grace Gifford, a prisoner for months during the Irish Civil War. 1 Once you’ve explored the individual cells, you’ll spend time in the main area, which boasts an impressive amount of natural light for a prison.
The last stop on the tour is outside, in Stonebreakers’ Yard. This is where the executions by firing squad took place. There’s not much left here apart from something to commemorate what happened on this site, but the simplicity is appropriate here, as it allows for a moment of reflection.
The gaol is actually more centrally located than you might imagine. There are multiple hotels in the area if you’re staying in Dublin and if you’re not staying nearby, you can take the LUAS Red Line tram to Suir Road to access it.
For more information to help you plan your visit, you can check out the website here.
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