Kilmainham Gaol Dublin

Kilmainham Gaol is a prison in Kilmainham, Ireland. Dublin’s new County Gaol first opened its doors in 1796. It ceased operations in 1924. From the 1798 uprising through the Irish Civil War of 1922-23, the structure has served as a symbol of militant and constitutional nationalism.

Here, rebel leaders from 1798, 1803, 1848, 1867, and 1916 were held and in some cases executed. During the Anglo-Irish War (1919-21), several members of the Irish Republican movement were incarcerated in Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, which was guarded by British forces. The structure will always be connected with Henry Joy McCracken, Robert Emmet, Anne Devlin, Charles Stewart Parnell, and the 1916 leaders.

Kilmainham, on the other hand, was a county jail that housed thousands of ordinary men, women, and children. Their crimes varied from minor misdemeanours like stealing food to more heinous offences like murder or rape. Convicts from all over Ireland were detained here for extended periods of time while awaiting shipment to Australia.

The Building

In 1796, the Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin was established. It replaced an earlier prison that was located around the region of present-day Mount Brown and was known as ‘the New Gaol’ at the time. This prison, like most eighteenth-century prisons, was a chaotic environment. Men, women, and children were imprisoned together, gaolers were brutal, and the conditions were unsanitary. The jail reform movement, led by John Howard (1727-1790), opposed this climate and advocated for the use of solitary cells and cleanliness and health amenities.

Guided Tours at Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol is a very crowded attraction, thus purchasing tickets ahead of time is required to secure entrance on your preferred day and time. Only guided tours of the Gaol are available, with a maximum of 35 individuals per tour. Visitors should arrive at the Gaol 15 minutes prior to the commencement of their tour. All groups of more than ten persons must make a reservation in advance.

A visit to the Museum and a guided tour of the Gaol takes about 90 minutes on average. One-hour guided tours of the building are available. The Gaol building is extremely cold throughout the winter months, so please dress appropriately.

Admission Charges

Walk-up: €9 (adult), €7 (senior), €5 (child/ student), €23 (family). Credit/debit cards are accepted at reception.

Online (click here for online booking):€8 (adult), €6 (senior), €4 (child/ student), €20 (family).

The price for group bookings is €6 per person. Access to the Gaol is by guided tour only. Unaccompanied minors (under 18 years of age) will not be admitted. School groups are entitled to free admission under the Free Educational Visits for Schools Scheme. Holders of the Heritage Card gain free admission.