Kilmainham Gaol

About the museum

Kilmainham Gaol opened in 1796 as the new county gaol for Dublin. For more than a century it held thousands of men, women and children, most of them ordinary offenders, but also political prisoners from the main movements for Irish independence. Among those held here were Robert Emmet, Anne Devlin, members of the Fenian movement, Charles Stewart Parnell, Countess Markievicz and the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, fourteen of whom were shot by firing squad in the Stonebreakers’ Yard.

The gaol closed as a prison in 1924. It is now a National Monument in the care of the Office of Public Works and one of the best-known sites of modern Irish history. The visit tells the story through the 1798 rising, the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War, and also looks at everyday life in the prison.

Visitors enter the building only on a guided tour of about one hour, which includes an audio-visual presentation. Afterwards they can visit the museum exhibitions in the Courthouse visitor centre, where a café and a book and gift shop are also located. The interior is cold in winter and part of the tour is outdoors, so visitors should dress for the weather. The site is very busy all year round, so tickets must be booked online in advance.

Key themes

• Guided tour through the gaol where the leaders of the 1916 Rising were held
• Stonebreakers’ Yard, where 14 leaders were executed
• Museum exhibitions on the gaol and Irish nationalism
• Tour leaflet in several languages and tours in English and Irish
• Courthouse visitor centre with café and book shop

Permanent exhibitions

• Guided tour of Kilmainham Gaol – One-hour tour of the historic prison, with an audio-visual presentation, telling the stories of prisoners from 1798 to the Civil War.
• Museum exhibitions – Museum in the Courthouse visitor centre on the history of the gaol, prison life and the period of the Irish independence movement, visited before or after the tour.

Operated by

Office of Public Works (OPW)

Admission & discounts

Tickets are sold only on the official website and must be booked in advance; a limited number are released 28 days ahead and more at 09:15 on the day. Tickets from other sellers are not valid. Holders of the OPW Heritage Card book a complimentary ticket online and show the card on arrival. Groups of ten or more book by email.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The gaol is a historic building with some access difficulties. A ground-floor tour can be arranged for wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility, who should email kilmainhamgaol@opw.ie before booking. A social guide for first-time visitors and people with learning disabilities can be downloaded.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 6+

• Stroller-friendly: not available

The tour is not recommended for children under 6, and buggies are not allowed on it. Children under 12 enter free with a ticket, and there is a family ticket. The Free Educational Visits for Schools Scheme covers school groups.

Getting there & parking

The gaol is 3.5 km from the city centre.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers: not available

Brambles café is on the first floor of the Courthouse and the Kilmainham Gaol Book and Gift Shop is on the ground floor; neither needs a ticket. There are no lockers, but large belongings can be left in a designated area of the entrance hall at the visitor’s own risk.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit