About Kilmainham Gaol

A prison is generally something to be avoided at all costs when on vacation. That is unless you are in Dublin and pay a visit to the Kilmainham Gaol.
In its prime from 1796 to 1924, it was where Irish revolutionaries were imprisoned and executed. Men and women were incarcerated here for wanting nothing more than their country’s freedom. Leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, politicians leading the charge for Ireland’s independence, and those lobbying for Catholics to sit in Westminster Parliament were all held here. The prison is an important Irish monument to its independence.
After it was decommissioned, the Irish government originally wanted to demolish Kilmainham Gaol because it was a site of suffering and oppression. The prisoners were undernourished and mistreated. Since that undertaking would have been too costly the jail has since been converted to a museum. Kilmainham Gaol is a solemn reminder of the Irish war of independence.

 Once you enter, you go back in time and hear stories from when the K gaol was first opened. Stories start from the great famine of Ireland to the newer cells where the 14 rebels were held before execution, then onto the newest Victorian block which housed women, transformed into one of the exercise grounds, and then finally into the exercise ground where the executions of the rebels took place by the firing squad. There is a memorial there to commemorate the lives of the executed. The whole tour takes around an hour and is another must-see attraction for the visitors interested in history. There are excellent guided tours throughout the rest of the jail, which covers Irish history from 1796-1924. The Stonebreaker's Yard is sure to leave you empathetic as this is the spot where the leaders of the uprising met their grisly fate.

Must See

  • Bleak old jail of the 19th century is notorious for the harsh treatment it meted out to its prisoners. Take a visit to the Stonebreaker's Yard etc. and learn about the modes of tortures they inflicted on the prisoners
  • These prisons brief you about the stories of Ireland's Past
  • This is virtually a museum dedicated to the stories of rebellious prisoners 
  • Royal Hospital Kilmainham
  • Phoenix Park
  • The Irish National War Memorial Gardens
  • Richmond Barracks

How to reach

From Dublin city, you need to take a Taxi, it's 4.5 Km and takes 17 minutes to reach via route R148. If you go there by walking you need 48 min via R148. By bus, you need to take Bus no 79 and 69 it will reach there in 9 minutes and it’s available every 8 minutes from Dublin city James Gate, Usher's Quay.

The bus in Dublin costs €1.55 by Leap Card and €2.15 by Cash from stages 1-3. By Luas, a single journey starts at €1.54, if using a leap card. If paid through cash, it will start at €2.10.

Tips

  • The prison itself is very simple without many installations to show you what it is like, so be prepared to use your imagination
  • The history and the storytelling paint a clear picture of how it must have been when it was functional
  • These tickets are very limited and it is advisable to book your tickets in advance
  • Free admission for children under the age of 12.
  • Credit/Debit cards are accepted
  • During winter months the interior of the Gaol is very cold - please dress appropriately
  • Visitors should also note that children’s buggies/strollers, wheelie bags and large items of luggage are not permitted on the tour
  • Unaccompanied minors will not be admitted
  • Kilmainham Gaol has no car parking facilities
  • Photography is permitted but there is a policy against videography
  • You need to book tickets online
  • On the return, don't take Bus No. 76 as you exit the Gaol. Go to the other side of the prison to the bus shelter and take any bus that comes along. They all go to the center of town
  • The waiting space is intriguing, as it is in an old courthouse, which is incredible
  • The jail is very old, and hence wear flat footwear for ease while walking around the space
  • Join the local guide Adam's group who tells the story with great empathy
  • Kilmainham is a former jail, however, it stands for peace, reconciliation, and understanding
  • The place has a lot of graveyards

Visit Time

 October to March:

Sunday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Monday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

 

April, May, and September:

Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Monday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

June, July, and August:

Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Monday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Kilmainham Gaol Museum is open all year round, except the 24th, 25th, and 26th of December

Time Icon

Waiting Time

15 minutes

 

Entrance Fee Icon

Entrance Fee

Yes

Walk-up

Adults:  €9 per person, Seniors: - €7 per person, Child/Student: - €5 per person, family:- €20

 

Online:

Adults:  €8 per person, Seniors: - €6 per person, Child/Student: - €4 per person.

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Time you can spend Icon

Time you can spend

2 to 3 hours

 

Weather Icon

Weather

Light Rain 3.24°C

 

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