Tag Archives: Kilmainham gaol

Kilmainham is one of the largest unoccupied prisons in Europe.  It’s situated in the west part of Dublin, not far from the famed Guinness Storehouse.  There’s a lot of Irish and English history here, including of Irish suppression and rebellion, so it makes for an interesting stop especially if you’re in the city for several days.

The jail opened in 1796 as the Dublin County Jail and as a debtor’s prison.  At that time it was considered a model prison, but by modern standards it was a stark and cold place to be confined.  It was often used by the British as a political prison, especially to incarcerate those who fought for Irish independence, including those of the firing …

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