Kilmainham Gaol
Dublin, Ireland
Former prison opened in 1796, a key symbol of the Irish nation's struggle for freedom. For over a century, national uprising fighters, including Robert Emmet and Charles Stewart Parnell, were imprisoned here. After the defeat of the Easter Rising in 1916, a British firing squad executed fourteen leaders of the rebellion in the Breakers Yard courtyard. The Victorian East Wing, with its skylight and metal walkways, is an example of modern 19th-century penal thought.
- Visit time: 1 h 45 min
What to look for
- Victorian East Wing with three levels of cells and walkways
- Breakers Yard execution courtyard with two stone memorial crosses
- Joseph Plunkett's cell, where he married Grace Gifford hours before his death
Before you go
- Best time: Reservation required well in advance
- Crowds: Full groups of visitors for each tour
- Note: Entry only with a guide in designated groups
Good to know
- The prison was closed in 1924, and the last political prisoner was later president Éamon de Valera.
Sources: kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie, en.wikipedia.org
How long does it take to visit Kilmainham Gaol?
Plan about 1 h 45 min.
Nearby
- Royal Hospital Kilmainham — 640 m
- Irish Museum of Modern Art — 640 m
- Dublin Zoo — 1.4 km
- Guinness Storehouse — 1.5 km
- Fish Shop — 1.9 km
- Phoenix Park — 2.1 km
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