Kilmainham Gaol is one of the largest unoccupied prisons in Europe. It opened in 1796 as the new county gaol for Dublin. A prison for common criminals and a place of detention for convicts awaiting transportation to Australia, the building also reflected developing ideas in prison reform and architecture that emerged throughout the 19th Century. During its 128-year history, the Gaol witnessed some of the most heroic and tragic events in Ireland’s emergence as a modern nation. It is closely associated with the Irish struggle for independence, with a large number of leading revolutionary figures and political activists imprisoned within its walls. The guided tour will visit the prison chapel, the west wing and Victorian east wing of the Gaol, and will finish in the Stonebreakers’ Yard.

This building is owned by the State through the Office of Public Works (OPW).

Meeting Point: Kilmainham Gaol Visitor Centre, Inchicore Road, D08 RK28

Pre-Book Only

Assistance Dogs welcome

The guided tour includes 2 flights of stairs and uneven surfaces, so it may be difficult for people with movement impairments.

Wheelchair users and visitors with mobility issues should contact us directly [email protected]