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Kilmainham Gaol

Inchicore Road | Kilmainham, Dublin 8, Ireland (Kilmainham)
01 453 5984
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Ranked #9 of 225 attractions in Dublin
Type: Historic Sites, Specialty Museums
Description: This bleak old jail was notorious in the 19th century for its harsh treatment of prisoners.
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2,786 reviews from our community

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Los Angeles, California
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 18, 2013 NEW

For anyone who is a history buff, Kilmainhan Gaol is a must. Walking through the former prison was a haunting and moving experience. The guided tour begins with a video presentation. The most compelling was the video from the 1916 uprising on what is now O'Connell Street.

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See 2 more reviews by tonikalib for Dublin
Daventry
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13 reviews 13 reviews
6 attraction reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
10 helpful votes 10 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 18, 2013 NEW

If you're British then this is a tough visit to make, but don't let that put you off making it. The Gaol itself dates from the 1700s and closed in 1924. Much of its history revolves around the imprisonment and execution of Irish revolutionaries, which is what makes it tough for British ears. However, the prison itself is a fascinating... More

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See 8 more reviews by bobcubitt for Dublin
Marietta, GA
Senior Contributor
45 reviews 45 reviews
11 attraction reviews
Reviews in 18 cities Reviews in 18 cities
25 helpful votes 25 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 17, 2013 NEW

We had heard that the tour of the Kilmainham Gaol was quite popular and that, especially with a group as large as we were, advance planning was not available. This is one of the stops on the Hop on/Hop off bus tour so it was really easy to get to. We made it our first stop in the morning so... More

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See 6 more reviews by DebieDC for Dublin
Summerville, South Carolina
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20 reviews 20 reviews
5 attraction reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
14 helpful votes 14 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 17, 2013 NEW

The Gaol was one of my first our stops on my first day. So glad it was, because after learning all about the Revolution and the men and women who sacrificed themselves, every other place I visited had a deeper meaning. Make this a day 1 stop and go early because the tours book up rather quickly. Only 6 Euro.

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See 5 more reviews by phillips65 for Dublin
Green Cove Springs FL
Senior Contributor
26 reviews 26 reviews
5 attraction reviews
Reviews in 18 cities Reviews in 18 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 17, 2013 NEW

Being a first-time traveler to Ireland and having just learned about some of its history, I was eager to see this place that figured so importantly. I was not disappointed. Our guide was professional and informative and helped us understand the role of the gaol prior to the uprising and its part during that fateful time.

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See 2 more reviews by Crabcakegirl for Dublin
Gainesville, Florida, United States
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 16, 2013 NEW

We decided to stop for the Kilmainham Gaol (the jail) tour. This was one of the things I looked forward too most, and it didn't disappoint. A tour was starting in two minutes after our arrival and we were happy to hear there was space, as we'd heard it could get busy! We followed our tour guide to watch a... More

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See 4 more reviews by Nicole C for Dublin
Essex, UK
2 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 16, 2013 NEW

Great value for money, very informative and takes quite a long time to complete the tour. The tour guides keep you interested and would appeal to all age groups

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Iowa
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15 reviews 15 reviews
10 attraction reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 16, 2013 NEW

#2 attraction in Dublin (behind Guiness Brewery tour). If you don't get there early, you will need to sign up for a tour and either wait or walk the neighborhood. At the time it was built, it was a model of modern jailing. Much of the tour was geared to the political prisoners who were housed there, including one who... More

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See 10 more reviews by zrrealtopcat for Dublin
Chicago, Illinois
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
4 attraction reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 16, 2013 NEW

I loved hearing the history and importance of Kilmainham Gaol, which is still a prominent piece of the Irish culture. This is a must-see while in Dublin, and make sure you take your camera!

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See 4 more reviews by kellibelli1126 for Dublin
Naul, Dublin, Ireland
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
7 attraction reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 16, 2013 NEW

i have been here 6 times in the last 3 years, i cant get enough of it. The history is great and u can really imagine life many years ago.

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See 2 more reviews by patricia421 for Dublin

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