Zoom out. What’s this place all about?
Kilmainham Gaol (jail) opened in 1796 and was operational until 1924, and those years saw major rebellions in Ireland. Many of the leaders were detained and executed in the gaol, but many ordinary citizens, including children, were incarcerated here, too. There’s a haunting amount of history within these stone walls, so a tour of Kilmainham Gaol is a poignant and evocative experience.
What can we expect to see on a tour?
Kilmainham offers fascinating, albeit harrowing, insight into prison life. Cells that were intended for one inmate often housed up to five, particularly during the Great Famine, when food was so scarce that people deliberately committed crimes just so they'd be imprisoned—and therefore receive regular rations. Tours of the gaol conclude in the Stonebreakers’ Yard, where 14 leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed. One of them, Joseph Plunkett, had gotten married hours earlier.
Wow, sounds poignant. Anything else to see here?
The Kilmainham Gaol Museum has a collection of more than 10,000 objects, many of which have been donated by Irish citizens. There are also temporary exhibitions on subjects like the hunger strikes between 1877 and 1981, or Dorothy Macardle's prison writings.
What did you make of the crowd?
The gaol draws Irish and international visitors, some who possess a good grasp of its history and others who don't. Whatever your level of knowledge, it’s tough not to be moved by what you see.
On the practical tip, how were facilities?
It’s not a challenging tour, though you'll be on your feet the entire time. For visitors in wheelchairs, ground-floor-only tours can be arranged in advance.
Any guided tours worth trying?
Visits are by guided tour only. Slots can book up quickly, particularly on weekends or in summer, so we recommend reserving in advance (which you can do online).
Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it?
A gift shop stocks some interesting books, but it's not really ripe for extensive souvenir-shopping.
Is the café worth a stop, or should we just plan on going elsewhere?
The modest café is fine, but you're better off heading to Union 8 just a short walk around the corner.
Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged?
The guided tour lasts an hour; even if you visit the shop and cafe after, you can be in and out of the gaol in 90 minutes.
