The Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin was a prison, built in 1789, which was closed in the20s of the twentieth century and was never reopened. Towards the 60s it was remodeled and rearranged as a museum. Today the "Kilmainham Jail" is a museum showing the main events that led Ireland to independence and the senseless civil war that followed.
It 's a goal often unjustly neglected, which allows you to become better acquainted with the history of the last two centuries of the country. The terrible years of famine(1845-51) and the long process of liberation from British rule, after centuries ofrevolts, sometimes bloody and fruitless and whose leaders have often been imprisoned at Kilmainham, typically until he decided their execution.

It's possible to visit the Kilmainham Gaol only through guided tours every 30 minutes.First of all there is to a slide show (30 minutes) very well done on the history of theIrish national movement since the eighteenth century until independence.

Then a guide leads the group of Anglophone visitors for 45 minutes to 1 hour in thecells of prisoners, in the corridors, in the large outdoor courtyard.

Inside is a small museum with many great memories and documents: letters, photographs, newspapers of the period, weapons, personal items etc.. You can see the flannel shirt, a hat, some napkins that belonged to De Valera during his detention.Between cells historical, that of Robert Emmet (beheaded 20 September 1803 in the prison yard on a stump of wood that is still there).

Admission: 5 Euro

Opening hours of Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin:

May-September:
Mon-Sat: 9:30 a.m.-17h00
Sunday: 10h00-17h00

October-April:
Mon-Sat: 9:30 a.m.-16h00
Sunday: 10h00-17h00