After we sampled a pint at the Guinness Storehouse, we made our way out to the bus stop to hop on for our next stop; the Kilmainham Gaol. This is a very popular tourist spot and it is recommended to get there early in the morning to avoid a long wait as the guided tours fill up quickly. When we arrived at the jail, there were approximately 20 people in line ahead of us. It moved quickly and we reserved spots in the 12:40 tour, a wait of about 40 minutes or so. We looked at the exhibits in the museum and then went up to the tea room where we enjoyed a light lunch of quiche and salad. Then we went back down to the first floor where the tour was to start and waited for our guide.
This attraction was one of the highlights of our entire trip. We learned about the jail’s history, some of its famous former prisoners and about films (and videos) that have been filmed there including The Italian Job (original), In the Name of the Father, Michael Collins and U2’s video for their song, A Celebration.
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- Tour starts here
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- Outside of the jail
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- The altar at the jail, where a couple was married and the prisoner was immediately sent to his cell after the ceremony
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- The hallway in the old section of the jail
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- Close up of a cell door, showing the peep holes
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- Looking through a peep hole into a cell in the old wing
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- A section of cells in the old section
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- A prisoner carved these words into the wall in the old wing
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- The new section of the jail, familiar to U2 fans
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- Stairs leading down to the kitchen and basement
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- Inside a cell in the new section
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- Cells in the new wing
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- Looking out of a cell in the new wing
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- Door leading to the courtyard
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- Kevin in the courtyard
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- Courtyard where hangings and execution by firing squad occured
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- Some of the buildings comprising the complex
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- Sign showing tours that are already sold out
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- The queue as we were leaving