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The galleried, skylit East Wing cell block of Kilmainham Gaol

No. 21 Top Landmarks & Attractions 2026

Kilmainham Gaol Museum

Dublin, Ireland · City guide: Dublin

Dublin's former gaol, where leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed, now a museum of Irish history.

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Photo: Velvet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Kilmainham Gaol is No. 21 in Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Best of the Best 2026 ranking of the top attractions in the world. It opened in 1796 as the county gaol for Dublin. Most prisoners were ordinary criminals, but it also held many who fought for Irish independence, from Robert Emmet and Charles Stewart Parnell to Countess Markievicz. Fourteen leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed by firing squad in its Stonebreakers' Yard.

The gaol closed in 1924. In the 1960s it was restored by volunteers of the Kilmainham Gaol Restoration Committee, and it was handed over to the State in 1986. Run today by the Office of Public Works, it is one of the largest unoccupied gaols in Europe.

The stone exterior of Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin
The stone exterior of Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin. Photo: GrimsbyT, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to visit

Open all year except 24–27 December. Tickets are released online 28 days in advance and popular times sell out quickly. A few extra tickets for the same day are released online from 9:15 am. Part of the tour is outdoors, so dress for the weather.

Highlights

  • 1

    The East Wing

    The galleried Victorian cell block, opened in 1861, is lit by a great skylight and has appeared in many films.

  • 2

    The Stonebreakers' Yard

    The yard where the leaders of the 1916 Rising were shot in May 1916.

  • 3

    The chapel

    Joseph Plunkett married Grace Gifford here a few hours before his execution in 1916.

  • 4

    The old West Wing

    The oldest part of the gaol, with dark, cramped cells.

  • 5

    The museum

    Exhibitions on the gaol's history and its prisoners, including letters and personal belongings.

Getting there

Kilmainham is about 3 km west of Dublin's city centre. Several Dublin Bus routes stop nearby, and the Luas Red Line stops at Suir Road and Heuston station are within about 20 minutes' walk. The Irish Museum of Modern Art at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham is close by.

Practical tips

Tours & tickets
Access is by guided tour only, and tickets must be booked on the official website. Tickets bought from resellers are not valid.
Time needed
The tour lasts an hour; allow about 90 minutes including the museum.
Currency
Euro (EUR). Cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Safety
Dublin is generally safe; take normal city care at night. Dial 112 or 999 in an emergency.
Visa & entry
Ireland is in the EU but not in the Schengen Area, and it runs its own border controls. Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and EU countries do not need a visa for a short visit. Check irishimmigration.ie for your nationality.

Official information: Kilmainham Gaol Museum (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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