Sights · Our pick in Dublin
Kilmainham Gaol Museum
Opened in 1796
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © GrimsbyT · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Kilmainham Gaol Museum
Kilmainham Gaol, at Inchicore Road, is one of the largest unoccupied gaols in Europe. It opened in 1796 as the new county gaol for Dublin and closed as a gaol in 1924; in the words of the Office of Public Works, it witnessed some of the most heroic and tragic events in Ireland’s emergence as a modern nation. Visits are by guided tour; buy tickets only on the official site.
Why it's on our list
- Guided tours only
- Book ahead
- Official site only
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Kilmainham Gaol Museum before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Kilmainham Gaol Museum are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 14 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest Luas and rail stops
- Suir RoadLuas600 m7 min walk
- GoldenbridgeLuas700 m9 min walk
- DrimnaghLuas900 m11 min walk
Key sights
- Guinness Storehouse1.5 kmWalk 19 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Christ Church2.6 kmWalk 32 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Phoenix Park3.1 kmWalk 38 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 13 min
- St Stephen’s Green3.4 kmWalk 42 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 14 min
- Trinity College3.7 kmCycle 16 minCar or taxi 15 min
- National Gallery3.8 kmCycle 16 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Dublin Airport10 kmCycle 45 minCar or taxi 34 min
Main railway stations
- Heuston1.2 kmWalk 14 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Connolly4.3 kmCycle 19 minCar or taxi 17 min