Kilmainham Gaol Entrance
One of the coolest—and most chilling—places to check out on your visit to Dublin is Kilmainham Gaol. It was built in 1796, and, for much of its history, held prisoners of any crime—including women and children, the latter of whom were incarcerated primarily on the basis of petty crimes. Until the 1820s, public hangings took place in front of the jail. It was decommissioned in 1924, and reopened as a public monument, run by the Office of Public Works, in the 1980s.
Kilmainham’s role in Dublin’s turbulent history is very influential. For most of the 19th century, it was very overcrowded, and the living conditions were horrible. Something you might notice, if you take a tour of the jail, is that it is very drafty, dank, and dark inside. So, imagine this in the cold Irish winters (before central heating), combined with the poor air circulation…
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