At Cork City Gaol you can experience what it was like to live in a 19th-century Irish prison. The facility opened in 1824 and closed in 1923, but the museum was not available to the public until 1993. Tour the grounds, view furnished cells, and walk the halls of this historic prison. At different points over the years, both male and female prisoners were jailed here. Many Irish War of Independence and Irish Civil War Republicans were held in this prison, including the famous writer Frank O'Connor. Though the prison has a somber atmosphere, take the time to appreciate the beauty of the structure, designed by architect William Robertson and built by the Deane family. Plan trip to Cork with our itinerary maker to find out where to go and what to do.
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Tours to Cork City Gaol
Cork City Gaol reviews
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Very interesting, was good value for money! Very good cleaning standards and felt very comfortable throughout. more »
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Cork doesn’t have too many visiting attractions so this is a must see. We chose the interactive audio self tour, this really brings the prisoner stories to life. The Gaol grounds are also worth... more »
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The Cork City Gaol was one of the best attraction I visited in Cork! You can discover a lot of things about what happened in the last two centuries and you can also have a lovely tour around the beautiful building. Everything is clear and well-organized, so you can easily do your own visit without the guide. I would come back again, because my experience was amazing! The price is quite cheap (10,50€ adult - 8,50€ student/senior - 6€ children under 18) and I recommend it to everyone who is going to Cork. The guided tour start every 30 minutes.
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10€ for a guided tour. Takes around and hour and a half. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Due to the well kept records of the prison, detailed records of the conditions, the inmates, and the history is available. The tour includes interesting stories of some of the inmates, including women and children, who served time here.
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