Kilmainham Gaol

Amazing tour! Our tour guide, David, provided an engaging story on a key part of Irish history. He was extremely knowledgeable and able to answer all the questions we had. The building itself is hauntingly beautiful and the tour takes you through to different areas. Would highly recommend coming here

This tour was absolutely amazing, as was our very friendly and knowledgeable tour guide, Joanne. I walked away knowing so much more about Ireland's struggle for independence than I did before I went. You definitely need to not only book in advance, but make a plan to book exactly 28 days out. We went on a Wednesday and all of the available time slots were filled within 90 minutes.

Book your tickets in advance as they book 28 days out and go extremely quick. You don’t want to have to hope to get tickets the day of. The tour was just the right amount of time. The guide was very knowledgeable and spoke of some of the high profile prisoners as well as the rebellion that helped shape the country to what it is today. Put this up there with the Guinness tour as another thing not to miss before leaving Dublin.

Incredible tour! A must see in Ireland! Make sure to book your tickets in advance. They are cheap but they do sell out fast! Even if the day is sold out, keep checking as they do have cancellations. That's how my wife and I were able to see it on our trip. A place of incredible tragedy and it is handled with the upmost respect to those who were imprisoned here. Walking into the main jailing area really takes your breath away. The stories of what happened in these walls are something you need to hear when visiting Dublin!

One of my favourite tours in Dublin. We had a great storyteller take us through the history of the jail and Irish rebellions against the British rule. Recommend you buy tickets in advance and arrive at least 15 mins prior to your tour time. You can arrive even earlier and explore the side rooms while you wait.

An incredible experience – a place that makes you feel as close as you possibly can to the last days of the martyrs of 1916. Our tour guide Anthony was brilliant and conducted his tour in an engaging and sympathetic manner with a perfect blend of drama and solemnity. He was always inviting questions that he responded to in a knowledgeable and personal way with a fair helping of humor. The museum is a gem with some astonishing artifacts from the Rising and Irish history. Make sure you book well in advance as you can only visit with a pre-booked ticket and the slots fill up very quickly. Alternatively, if you find that your preferred day is filled up, you can often get tickets on the day if you go to the website at 9.15am, which is what I did. A must see if you're interested in Irish history!

I wish I could give this review 5+ . If you haven't booked your visit to the goal, you maybe lucky to find tickets at 9.15am on the official website. The gaol is well preserved and our tour was lead by a passionate guide Adam. Adam brought the history alive giving everyone time to take photo's and ask questions educating us on Irish history. Arrive early and pop into the enterprise Loaf cafe over the road supporting those with Autism & disabilities.

This site is such an integral part of Ireland's history and its development that it really is a must-see in Dublin. First- tickets. Hands up, I was caught out too and didn't realize they only go on sale a month before and sell out quickly. If you have missed out- on the day you want to visit, try at approx 9.15 as they release tickets (availability was pretty good too with a range of times all day). They are strict with the start time so try not to schedule things too tightly. The tour itself starts in the courthouse building. There isn't a tour of this section so do have a look around (don't miss the plaque upstairs in the cafe). Alongside the cafe, there's a gift shop and some exhibits on the jail as well. They ask you to be in the main courthouse area 5 minutes before the tour starts and they'll do a ticket check before meeting your guide by the modern holding cells. Tours go every 15 minutes so the tours are quite tightly scheduled. Our guide was great, amazing projection and very knowledgeable. She made it interesting and balanced history with the more personal stories which was great. You start in the chapel with a quick run through the background information before going through the oldest cell blocks and into the Victorian one. Then it's outside into the yards before finishing at the front of the prison. There's also a museum however if you're on the last tours of the day it may well be closed when you finish so I think they allow you to go in before the tour starts. It's worth taking the time to look around the museum, there's lots to see and some really quite personal mementoes which are very poignant.

Amazing tour! Our tour guide, David, provided an engaging story on a key part of Irish history. He was extremely knowledgeable and able to answer all the questions we had. The building itself is hauntingly beautiful and the tour takes you through to different areas. Would highly recommend coming here

This tour was absolutely amazing, as was our very friendly and knowledgeable tour guide, Joanne. I walked away knowing so much more about Ireland's struggle for independence than I did before I went. You definitely need to not only book in advance, but make a plan to book exactly 28 days out. We went on a Wednesday and all of the available time slots were filled within 90 minutes.

Book your tickets in advance as they book 28 days out and go extremely quick. You don’t want to have to hope to get tickets the day of. The tour was just the right amount of time. The guide was very knowledgeable and spoke of some of the high profile prisoners as well as the rebellion that helped shape the country to what it is today. Put this up there with the Guinness tour as another thing not to miss before leaving Dublin.

Incredible tour! A must see in Ireland! Make sure to book your tickets in advance. They are cheap but they do sell out fast! Even if the day is sold out, keep checking as they do have cancellations. That's how my wife and I were able to see it on our trip. A place of incredible tragedy and it is handled with the upmost respect to those who were imprisoned here. Walking into the main jailing area really takes your breath away. The stories of what happened in these walls are something you need to hear when visiting Dublin!

One of my favourite tours in Dublin. We had a great storyteller take us through the history of the jail and Irish rebellions against the British rule. Recommend you buy tickets in advance and arrive at least 15 mins prior to your tour time. You can arrive even earlier and explore the side rooms while you wait.

An incredible experience – a place that makes you feel as close as you possibly can to the last days of the martyrs of 1916. Our tour guide Anthony was brilliant and conducted his tour in an engaging and sympathetic manner with a perfect blend of drama and solemnity. He was always inviting questions that he responded to in a knowledgeable and personal way with a fair helping of humor. The museum is a gem with some astonishing artifacts from the Rising and Irish history. Make sure you book well in advance as you can only visit with a pre-booked ticket and the slots fill up very quickly. Alternatively, if you find that your preferred day is filled up, you can often get tickets on the day if you go to the website at 9.15am, which is what I did. A must see if you're interested in Irish history!

I wish I could give this review 5+ . If you haven't booked your visit to the goal, you maybe lucky to find tickets at 9.15am on the official website. The gaol is well preserved and our tour was lead by a passionate guide Adam. Adam brought the history alive giving everyone time to take photo's and ask questions educating us on Irish history. Arrive early and pop into the enterprise Loaf cafe over the road supporting those with Autism & disabilities.

This site is such an integral part of Ireland's history and its development that it really is a must-see in Dublin. First- tickets. Hands up, I was caught out too and didn't realize they only go on sale a month before and sell out quickly. If you have missed out- on the day you want to visit, try at approx 9.15 as they release tickets (availability was pretty good too with a range of times all day). They are strict with the start time so try not to schedule things too tightly. The tour itself starts in the courthouse building. There isn't a tour of this section so do have a look around (don't miss the plaque upstairs in the cafe). Alongside the cafe, there's a gift shop and some exhibits on the jail as well. They ask you to be in the main courthouse area 5 minutes before the tour starts and they'll do a ticket check before meeting your guide by the modern holding cells. Tours go every 15 minutes so the tours are quite tightly scheduled. Our guide was great, amazing projection and very knowledgeable. She made it interesting and balanced history with the more personal stories which was great. You start in the chapel with a quick run through the background information before going through the oldest cell blocks and into the Victorian one. Then it's outside into the yards before finishing at the front of the prison. There's also a museum however if you're on the last tours of the day it may well be closed when you finish so I think they allow you to go in before the tour starts. It's worth taking the time to look around the museum, there's lots to see and some really quite personal mementoes which are very poignant.

I found Kilmainham Gaol absolutely fascinating. I knew very little about the history of the jail so it was very interesting to learn more about the Easter Rising and some of the Irish revolutionaries that spent time here. Our guide was extremely well informed and engaging. He thoughtfully interacted with our tour group and it was a nice blend of history and storytelling. The hour long tour flew by. We were lucky enough to get same day tickets but I know it's typically recommended to buy in advance. I'd definitely recommend this experience to anyone looking to learn a little about Irish history. The jail is located a little outside the city center but is easily accessible via public transport or a long walk, which is what we did.

An unforgettable experience. Kilmainham Gaol (i.e. Jail) is a reminder of the struggles and tragedies necessary for the Irish people to gain freedom from British oppression. The imposing Gaol opened in 1796, built on top of the cheerily named "Gallows Hill". To really add to the general misery of the place, the prison itself was built from a local limestone that locked in the cold and damp. In addition to political prisoners the Gaol held children as young as 8 for the "grave offence" of stealing a piece of bread during the famine. The prison was closed for penal business in 1924 and is now open to the public by guided tour only. Our guide was wonderful as he made history come alive during the course of the one hour tour, which starts in the chapel and ends in the Bonebreakers Yard (where leaders of the Irish Revolution were executed). There are some stairs but the tour pace is relaxed so doable for most. Tickets are 6EUR each, purchased on the Gaol website exactly 3 months prior to the desired tour date/time beginning midnight Irish time. Tours sell out quickly so it's best to get online promptly. I've heard that additional tickets may be available each morning due to cancellations, but I reserved ahead to make sure.

This tour was great as was our tour guide filled with history & threw in some mirth that contrasted with the darkness of what really occurred on the grounds we walked through. Truly interesting stories of what went on until 1924 in this gaol. I would highly recommend this tour, but keep in mind uneven ground, stairs, and quite a bit of walking might make it difficult for some.

This tour was excellent. Very interesting to see the history. One story was of a 3-4 year old child being incarcerated for stealing bread. Plus, the story of the young men being executed for their part in trying to gain independence. Very haunting to see this and hear of their final hours. If you love history, don't miss this tour.

My husband and I just returned from our Ireland adventure. We were lucky enough to obtain tickets to tour Kilmainham Gaol. Our tour guide was amazing! Definitely suggest touring this facility...it is inexpensive and worth the time. Be sure to buy tickets early...they sell out quickly.

If you are going to Dublin then I would highly recommend starting your trip at the Kilmainham Gaol and doing the guided tour. The tour also gives you access to the museum, so if you choose an earlier time, you can visit the museum after. Although it was raining the day we went, it was very tolerable as most of the tour is indoors. Bring an umbrella for the outdoor part. Our tour guide was Andrew - he was great!! Very thorough, informative, funny and nice. The museum is indoors, making it a really great place to visit in the rain. It is multiple stories with tons of history about the Kilmainham Gaol and the Republic of Ireland.

On their website it will generally look sold out, but from what I saw there are always day-of tickets that come available at 9:15 AM. This was the main thing I wanted to see in the day and a half we were in Dublin, and it did not disappoint. The tour, the venue, and the museum provided a master course in recent Irish history to this foreigner, and if I knew anyone who was going to Dublin I would tell them to be sure to visit Kilmainham Gaol. Our tour guide Conor was notably outstanding and did an incredible job of conveying the importance of the place in the story of Ireland's history. This will always be one of the places in the world I'm most glad I visited.

Shoutout to both Ciara and Roy for making my experience at the Gaol possible. I emailed them with concerns about mobility, since I use a cane, and about being able to get a tour that fit my schedule. I met you, Roy, but Ciara, if you're out there... you started it all and made it happen! Many thanks for the opportunity! The Gaol reminded me much of my time when I worked at Eastern State Penitentiary in the States. Though the Kilmainham Gaol is far better maintained than most of ESP, I could not help but feel so many similarities to the stories of prisoner neglect, suicides, executions, and the horrible conditions that many of them had to endure. The history behind those hallowed halls can really be felt as you walk through the corridors and into the cells. Daniel, the guide for my particular group, was amazing at delivering information and bringing the group through with such fluidity. As I moved on through the building, I could see other tours simultaneously being brought through. They really do have the timing down to a T, which is why it is so important to be on time and why so many bookings sell out so quickly! I managed with my gammy old leg fairly easily, but you will be on your feet for most of it and unfortunately it does not appear that there is wheelchair access (except for the museum, also very interesting in and of itself). If you do have additional needs or concerns, I think you may email them, as they were very receptive to me.

Historical jail that's a short bus ride from the city center. Booked our tickets online in advance, as a tour is required (it does seems like it would be easy to get lost if you wandered by yourself). Our tour guide Jonathan was excellent - very knowledgeable and had good voice projection. Incidentally, he sounded a bit like Sean Connery to me. You check in at the door and wait until your group comes together before you start walking around. The tour was about an hour, and then you have a chance to wander on your own in the museum. There was a lot of history in the jail, and they did a really good job of providing context. There's a cafe as well as restrooms on the second level. It's a good spot for kids as well as big groups. If you come during the day, you could go for a stroll in the park afterwards.

The Gaol was a highly recommended attraction we missed out on due to sold out tickets! Get your tickets early!

Thoroughly enjoyed the guided tour! Our guide Anna was fantastic, giving lots of detail on the history of the jail and individual cells, etc. Was able to answer any questions the group had. Voice carried very well without feeling like we were being yelled at or talked down to. The tour was very informative and I felt like I truly learned a lot about Irish history in just an hour tour. We booked our tickets day of, as extras pop up around 9:00-9:30 in the morning, so don't worry too much if you don't book a month out, if you are flexible with timing it should be pretty easy to get some last minute. My husband accidentally booked the tour for the wrong date, but luckily David was able to help us out over the phone.

The Kilmainham Gaol tour was excellent. Our tour guide was a good presenter and very knowledgeable. You see the historic jail and learn about its history and prisoners. It's well worth it for any visitors to get a better understanding of Irish history.

Very unique place to visit! Our guide was very knowledgeable. Only an hr long so easy to fit in to your day.

One of the most powerful experiences we had in Ireland was visiting the 1796 Kilmainham Gaol. We saw both the old section and the east wing which was replaced with an updated, new design in the late 1850's. Our tour guide, Mary, did an excellent job of telling us about the history of the jail/prison. She also shared the circumstances of some of the inmates and how they came to be there, including children during the Great Famine, and leaders of the 1916 Uprising. The museum provided interesting additional information.

This place is well worth the time. Great history and well preserved and you get to walk the grounds and explore both the old and new sections of the old jail that had some famous guests. The guides provide a great and informative overview of the history. There is a cafe for light snacks plus coffee and tea. Can't say enough about finding this place. I would put it up there with Top 10 sites to visit while in Dublin. Not close but walkable from the city center.

If you don't do anything else in Dublin, go here. The History that this place represents is very important in Irelands history. The tour is well done and the guide very helpful with questions. Listen to the great Irish song "Grace" before you go. Tickets are sold only so many days in advance and you really cant wait until the day of, or it will be sold out, so order your tickets in advance

Anthony's passion for sharing his incredible knowledge and his skill to engage his audience made this an impactful experience. I felt a range of emotions as he educated us on the history of the gaol. I would like to have bought him a pint or two and learned more from him.

Our visit to Kilmainham gaol was the highlight of our first day thanks to 'Adam' our fabulous tour guide. Not only was he warm and welcoming but also had a fabulous sense of humor. He was keenly aware of his audience and specifically told stories of interest to the children. The jail and museum were very interesting and informative in regards to the history of Ireland and its people. Highly recommended and Adam was the best.

My wife, her cousin and I embarked on this tour after attending the Guinness tour. We endured an episode in the brewery where we thought our Gaol tickets were lost, but we found them right before the tour. Needless to say, this jail tour was fueled by copious amounts of Guinness beer. We started the tour with a video history of the jail, in the room where an inmate was wed to a lover the day before execution. The video included the children who were imprisoned here for various petty crimes, such as stealing bread. Our tour guide took us inside the jail and we saw various cells as he told us the history of the famous prisoners here as well as various foiled uprisings and insurrections. Interesting to note were the huge numbers of people executed on site. About 10 minutes into the tour I had to relieve my bladder. My bladder has gotten smaller over the years and the four pints of Guinness didn't help. The tour guide called a mate to escort me to the bathroom. I missed about 20 minutes of the tour. On top of missing some of the tour, our guide had a very dull personality and I don't think I gleaned as much as I could have if: a.) I hadn't drank four pints of Guinness b.) Hadn't missed 20 minutes of the tour c.) The guide's personality had inspired me to pay attention Needless to say, I'm sure under the right circumstances this tour is quite good. These just didn't transpire when I was there.

During our trip to Ireland, we took the time to visit this prison (closed for good in the 1900s). A tour guide took us around to some of the cells and explained who was kept in there and why. He did a very good job at keeping us entertained. He took us to the east wing where more prisoners were kept. After we finished up learning more information in the courtyard, we went inside to the museum where they had multiple artifacts on different floors of the building. It was so cool to look around at some of the information about the prisoners and other items from the prison itself.

The history, the story and the jail is a must see when you're in Dublin. The tour guide, Dave, was very informative and passionate. He was very knowledgeable and made the entire tour interesting and engaging. At the end of the tour, one has a better understanding and respect for Ireland's history. I know I did. One part that i felt engaged in was the "all seeing eye" room where a guard was able to see every cell no matter where they stood. We were able to walk into some and peek into some of the cells. Afterwards, you entered an museum exhibit where you can see letters that were written to loved ones, clothes, and other personal paraphernalia. Just an all around great experience. This is a MUST SEE!

One of the top attention in Dublin, this abandoned prison is one of the largest unoccupied gaols in Europe, covering some of the most heroic and tragic events in Ireland's emergence as a modern nation from 1780s to the 1920s. It's worth to wait for the guided tour as it will tell your a lot of information about old wing and new wing and the history of the jail. You might not catch the tour in time, but spend sometime to visit the museum is also quite enjoyable

Do I recommend this tour: OF COURSE - 5/5 Book this in advance! I didn't and was lucky to get tickets. The history of this republic is very interesting and this jail housed those that fought for the country. The jail itself is very eerie and you will hear a lot of stories about the prisoners and why they were sent to the prison to begin with. The tour takes about an hour and then you are free to visit the museum to read more facts as well as see artifacts.

Epitome of Irish history. Jail cells that holds many historical events that shaped Ireland for what it is today! Brutal and gruesome. No wonder they have the saying of the luck of the fightin' Irish!

What an interesting history and great tour. A lot of history and information and so good to get to see it and feel the coldness of the building. It really allowed you to imagine what the conditions would have been like. It also opened your eyes to the history that Ireland has had. Our guide was very knowledgeable but didn't have too much of a personality. He really seemed to know what he was talking about though

Every so often, you walk into a building and can feel the history around you. That is an understatement when you visit Kilmainham Gaol. Highly recommended if you are appreciative of history, especially, a complete perspective of what those persons endured from incarceration within this jail from its opening in 1796 to its shuttering in 1924. Walking through the halls, past the cells, the courtyard, you can feel the sense of dread and ghosts of those who died and were executed here. With the gaol intact from renovations, taking the tour gave a glimpse of the conditions prisoners faced in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. Once you enter, surrounded by the 30-to-50-tall, thick wall of the gaol, you have been transported back in history where people were held for such crimes as murder, piracy, rape, theft, and treason. You can see the remains for the gallow fixtures where hangings took place up to the late 19th century, as well as the stonecutters yard where those who took part in the Easter Rebellion of 1916 were shot. The centerpiece of the tour revolved around the east wing that was rebuilt and reopened in 1861, whose architecture was based on the Panopticon, where you could view the 96-created cells from a central viewing area. The large skylight gives an ominous feeling of being constantly watched. The remarkable upkeep and condition of the jail have led to more than a few movies being filmed here over the past decades. If you are visiting Dublin on your travels through Ireland, or have never been while you have lived in the area, this is an attraction to visit -- especially, for those interested in Irish history.

A fascinating free tour which explains the history of the Gaol as well as touching on the history behind some of the most famous prisoners. In addition to the tour there is a very extensive Museum to visit. The tour takes 45 minutes and the Museum takes at least an hour. Highly recommended, advance booking essential.

This should be a must for any visitor to the country to understand the history and struggle of the people. How it all came to be. If you take the time you will understand the fight for independence the songs you are going to hear in the pubs and a lot of the names in locations will make more sense. Short tour with plenty of details and well worth the time.

My dad really wanted to go here when we were in Dublin, so we got tickets. Make sure to but tickets in advance because they sell out. We got there a little early, so we waited in the prison court room until it was time for the tour to start. The tour was very interesting. Our guide was very good and told us about the history of the jail. We learned a lot about the political history of Ireland and the people imprisoned at the jail. The main room of the new side of the jail is actually really pretty with a spiral staircase and a lot of natural light. At the end, there is a museum that's included with your ticket, but we didn't have much time to spend there. I think this is definitely worth doing while in Dublin!

What an awesome tour! Ellen was our guide and it was a blast. We asked a lot of our friends who had been here before how it was and they all raved about it! And now so can we! Bring a jacket, it sure gets nibbly! And check out the streets for nearby parking. We ordered our tickets well in advance and had zero complications. The staff who greeted us were friendly and extremely helpful. They don't start the tours early, so they have a cafe with soup, salad, snacks, some juice beverages and coffee options. Coffee wasn't anything special but helped warm and wake us up for the tour. Our guide Ellen not only gave us plenty of history and stories to learn from, but knew facts about the stone, architecture, prison life, and spent just the right amount of time at each section of the tour so we didn't feel like it was dragging on. Learning about the inmates and famous men, women, and children who were housed in the prison, history on the three Irish rebellions, and lots of time for pictures. A beautiful piece of Irish history and a great way to get to know the culture. Definitely stop by!

Absolutely great experience. We went a couple of years back and it really does tell the story well. It is also the set used for a number of big films including the 'Italian Job'. You can see where it was filmed. It is just a great experience and I do recomend it.

Prison turned museum. A fascinating look at what it's like when this place was fully operational and housed many Irish revolutionaries. The tour guide did a great job telling the stories of some of the prisoners who once resided behind the prison walls as well as providing interesting insight about the tense political relationship between Ireland and England at the time. The surreal moment was stepping foot into the courtyard and learning about the spot where some of the revolutionaries from the Easter Rising were executed. A somber moment reflecting on what it must've been like being in their shoes.

I wish I could give this 4.5 stars. It's an interesting tour with very informative tour guides. The gaol has been restored and maintained to give you a true appreciation of what it was like while it was in operation. Definitely worth buying a ticket.

As a True Blue Dub, I am sorry to say until recently; I was never in Kilmainham Gaol. What a brilliant day, my sisters and I had. Do Not Miss This

I would compare this place to Alcatraz. The history in Ireland is rich and exciting and completely sad in relation to the Kilmainham Gaol. The cost was small and the reservation is needed well in advance. There were about 15-20 people in our group. Our tour guide was THE BEST. His explanations were clear and he was very in touch with the info he was sharing. Very heartfelt. It was cold and gloomy. Really puts you back into the time when the jail was used. I think this tour is worth it.

Get your tickets in advance!!!! Everything I read online said you didn't need to buy anything in advance when visiting Dublin, but for this you must! The day we arrived, the week was nearly sold out. There were only three time slots left for the two days we were there. At least a week or two in advance you need to purchase tickets for the tour. This is a can't miss tourist attraction if you are visiting Dublin. So much history in one place. Very humbling to see the old parts of the jail. You get a complete tour that lets about an hour. So interesting and the stories of the prisoners is fascinating. At one point you can even step inside a cell to experience what it was like for past inmates. Dominic was a wonderful tour guide sharing stories of the inmates with emotion.

This was the best thing I did in Dublin! My tour guide Roísín was an incredibly captivating storyteller and had knowledge that went far beyond - in both scope and detail - what was covered on the tour. She took the time to answer my questions for nearly 20 minutes afterwards. I arrived a little bit late and the gentleman at the door gave me a 1:1 overview of a 3D model of the facility to cover what missed before he connected me with the rest of the tour. He also took myself and a few other stragglers to see an additional stop that the tour doesn't make! You must make go to Kilmainham if you're in Dublin and be sure to book tickets in advance. It was incredibly moving and educational. Thank you so much to the whole staff and especially Roísín!!

This was one of our favorite stops in Dublin. Purchase your tickets ahead of time because they are difficult to come by. Our guide was very passionate about the gaol and his storyteller technique was mesmerizing. I highly recommend the tour.

Quite honestly one of the best tours I have been on for anything. Dave, our guide, walked the group of +\- 20 people on an hour tour that felt like minuets. The information and passion surrounding the history of the jail is inspiring and educational. You must have reservations as every session appears full.

Definitely a must-see in Dublin if you are interested in Irish history and the sociopolitical struggles of the last two centuries. I have taken the tour twice and learned so much each time. My teens loved it, too. A good bit of walking required as well as squeezing through doorways and narrow passages, so wear comfortable shoes. Book tickets in advance.

What a lovely local place,very friendly staff and customers alike

"This is the death I should have asked if God had given me the choice of all deaths - to die a soldier's death for Ireland and for freedom. We have done right. People will say hard things of us now, but later on will praise us." - Patrick Pearse. One of the most significant monuments in Irish history (particularly modern Irish history) is Kilmainham Jail. It opened in 1796 and for most of its history it was just a regular prison housing inmates for petty crimes. For heinous crimes such as murder public executions were held in the front of the prison until 1865. Up until there was only one wing (the West Wing) where all criminals were held regardless of age and gender. Conditions were quite horrible - cells were cold and cramped, one small candle given to each inmate had to last for 2 weeks and the food was barely edible. The picturesque East Wing was built in 1862 with an additional 96 cells, built on the principles of Victorian philosophy regarding prisons and their role in rehabilitating the inmate. Unlike the West Wing the room was more lit, hoping that inmates would look upward to the heavens as their inspiration. The principles guiding rehabilitation were those of silence and separation - prisoners were isolated and forbidden to talk to one another. While the men could be housed in the East Wing, women were segregated in the West Wing until 1881, when it became an all-male prision. The prison became infamous for housing people that took part in the 1916 Easter Rising, which members declared Ireland a free republic, free from British rule. Back then this was a radical opinion as Britain was involved in WWI and most common Irish folk supported home rule - the notion that Ireland would be self-governed while being a part of the UK. The jail was reopened to house these people and most of the leaders of the Easter Rising (and all of the signatories of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic) were executed by firing squad outside. The executions made these people martyrs as public sympathy for the cause rose. *** My two most favorite museums/attractions in Dublin are close to each other and due to logistics I did them in one day. My #1 is Guinness Storehouse with Kilmainham Gaol being a close #2. If you're like many people who wish to combine both sights in one day it's obvious that the Storehouse is the later attraction but you should dedicate just as much time to this because of its significance in modern Irish history and like the Book of Kells, a chance to make "history come alive". Though not located in the central part of Dublin, it is a 25-30 minute walk, a short taxi ride and most hop on/hop off buses will stop here. ADMISSION €9. Access to the jail portion is only through guided tour. It's best to get your tickets online as the tours get quite popular during peak season and you aren't guaranteed a spot if you just walk in. It is also recommended to start early if you want to fully immerse yourself here and still have time to do the Storehouse later in the afternoon (with a definite reservation). Adam was my tour guide for the 12:30 tour. He is one of the best tour guides I've ever encountered. For someone that did not have European history during high school he made modern Irish history come alive for me as he detailed the experiences of the prisoners and humanized their struggles. He especially noted the stories of James Connolly (the wounded prisoner that had to be sent to Kilmainham to be executed) and the love story of Joseph Plunkett and Grace Gifford, who got married in the prison chapel just hours prior to Plunkett's execution. The prison itself is quite a marvel especially when you contrast the older West Wing with the new East Wing. The prison was abandoned for some time until the 1960's when an extensive restorative project converted the prison to its former "glory" to tourists. Names of prominent political prisoners are placed above the cells where they actually stayed and in the case of Grace Gifford's cell, you can actually peek into one of her murals of Madonna and child. A museum helps round out your experience here as it details life at the jail and Irish history during the time period of the jail's existence. My favorite part of the museum is the poignant dimly lit Last Words exhibit as it documents the literal last words of the 1916 Easter Rising political prisoners prior to their execution from the first execution to the last. My only regret is not spending enough time here - I wanted to learn more about these important figures. I highly recommend this place to experience a little piece of Irish history for yourself. Soak in all the information here then wash it away with a glass of Guinness several hours later.

Get your tickets ahead of time on their website. We got lucky showing up bright early in the morning on a Saturday. We were able to get in on the 30 minute tour. It was long enough to get the information and short enough not to take up the whole day. The guide was wonderful, specific and told some very nice stories. The museum was great as well and the information was great as well. It's a beautiful piece of Irish history and I'm glad that I was able to experience it.

Must see! Even if just checking out the free museum is worth it to get a clear idea of local struggles and history. Planning to do the guided tour as well! Tickets run out quickly.

Little did I know when I stepped into this tour that it would become one of my most memorable experiences in Ireland. I had not see mention of this prison in any of the recommended places to visit that I reviewed prior to our trip. I will admit that I knew very little about the Irish war for independence so I learned a great deal. During the tour I felt so many emotions and was ultimately in tears at one point. The tour guide tells the history as a story and it is captivating and sad. If you are in Dublin, I highly recommend this tour. For 10 euros, you won't be disappointed!

Pros: -Really interesting way to learn about Irish history! Would recommend the museum & hourlong jail tour (8 euro/person).

Dublin has its own Alcatraz attraction, and this is it as "gaol" is an Irish term for "jail". It hasn't been used as such since 1924, but the building retains the dramatic and realistic aura of a forbidding prison and gives you a sense of what it was like to have been confined in one of the tiny cells used for punishment and correction since 1796. For an admission fee of € 6, you get a guide who shares the alternately colorful and depressing history of the prison starting in the prison chapel where he tells the doomed romance between Irish nationalist Joseph Plunkett and Grace Gifford, who were married there in 1916 the day before he was executed and were allowed only an one-hour conjugal visit under the watchful eye of a guard. You also get to see the large room that held Charles Parnell, a popular 19th-century political leader and apparently the uncrowned King of Ireland, who was allowed to be surrounded by ornate furnishings from his home. The most impressive sight on the tour is the expansive Victorian Wing that honestly looks more like an empty resort hotel lobby with a central stairwell and elevated walkways (see photos). The 90-minute tour ends in the prison courtyard where you are a given a pardon to catch the next hop-on, hop-off bus. By the way, it was raining sheets the day I visited causing havoc with my portable umbrella, but somehow the storm just added to the already haunting atmosphere of the place.

Note: all my recent vacation in Ireland Yelp reviews will have the same 1st paragraph preamble, for just the review itself skip to the 2nd paragraph. On a whirlwind 2 week vacation to Ireland, the girlfriend & I tried to see & experience absolutely as much of this incredible land as we could. We did not accomplish every last activity we wished we could have on our rather ambitious itinerary. Nonetheless, we did discover a land of numerous stunning & magical wonders. We did see a land of unending natural beauty. We did learn of a land with a monumentally long history of trials, tragedies & triumphs. We did get to meet many kind, humorous, warm & generous people. Our vacation to Ireland was just 2 weeks, but that was time enough to know this is a land easy to love & a land to be sorely missed. Kilmainham Gaol is a fascinating & significant piece of Irish history. Though this prison has seen many hardships & dark times, including the Great Famine, its role in the 1916 Easter Rising was the most momentous. A horrible place when it was in operation, the prison was completely neglected after it was abandoned but Kilmainham Gaol is now very well restored. There is a museum area that spans 3 floors & a tour winds through many historically important areas of the prison. Together, these convey a vivid sense of how bleak it once was inside & even outside the prison walls. When the tour I had taken concluded, I could feel the whispers of the start of something nearly a century before. This was where the spark that would eventually lead to the birth of a nation had been touched off. We all are, to some extent, a product of what came before us. To truly appreciate this land, a visit to Ireland would not be complete without going to Kilmainham Gaol.

Make reservations early or go online the same day at 9:15 to check availability. It is a Dublin highlight.