Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin - darkometer rating : 7 - A large old prison in the west of Dublin . It's the place most linked with the various key rebels and leaders of uprisings during much or Ireland 's struggle against domination by England, perhaps most notably the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. Most of them were executed here. The jail was closed in 1924 shortly after Ireland did (mostly) gain independence. After many years of neglect the site was comprehensively refurbished and a museum added. It's easily Dublin's No. 1 dark site today! > More background info > What there is to see > Location > Access and costs > Time required > Combinations with other dark destinations > Combinations with non-dark destinations > Photos More background info: The prison was originally constructed in the late 18th century on a plot of land that was then still way outside Dublin 's city limits. Originally it held mostly "regular criminals", many of them debtors or beggars! But from fairly early on eminent political prisoners were also incarcerated in Kilmainham, i.e. those who openly opposed English rule in Ireland or even led rebellions. One of the first was Robert Emmet who after leading a short uprising in Dublin was held here until his public execution in 1803. The very last political prisoner, and one to walk out of Kilmainham alive, was Eamon de Valera, who later became Prime Minister and President of Ireland and is still regarded as one of the most eminent Irish politicians of the 20th century. The original rectangular cell block of the first prison was augmented in 1862 by a new East Wing.