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Dublin : Kilmainham Gaol and Hospital

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Kilmainham Gaol and Hospital

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  • Despite their communal name, these two sights could not be more contrasting, both in their appearance and history. The forbidding gaol was built in 1789, but the material used was sandstone which wept in bad weather, resulting in damp and grim conditions that adversely affected the health of the inmates. The jail closed in the 1920s and wasn’t touched again until it was restored as a museum in the 1960s. Kilmainham Hospital, however, was built in the 1680s as one of Ireland’s first Classical-style buildings – Sir William Robinson modelled the hospital on Les Invalides in Paris. It has been home of the Irish Museum of Modern Art since 1991.

    For more on Historic Buildings in Dublin
Top 10 Features
  • 1. Exhibition

    Housed in a modern hall of the gaol, this exhibition puts visitors in the rather gruesome mood for what is to come. On the ground floor is a section on hanging techniques, while upstairs deals with the struggle for independence (see The Easter Rising).

  • West Wing 2. West Wing
    2. West Wing

    A fascinating if depressing place, it doesn’t take much to imagine the horror of internment here. The guide tells of the conditions the prisoners were subjected to – one hour of candlelight a night – and the types of hard labour.

  • Gaol Chapel 3. Gaol Chapel
    3. Gaol Chapel

    The most poignant story related about the chapel is the wedding here of Joseph Plunkett and Grace Gifford. They married on the eve of Plunkett’s execution, and were allowed 10 minutes alone together before Plunkett was taken out and shot.

  • 4. East Wing

    A fine example of the “Panoptical” layout, used in many Victorian prisons. The idea was to maximize light but allow for constant surveillance of the prisoners.

  • 5. Tour

    A tour covering Irish history from 1796–1924 takes in a children’s exercise yard, a Civil War yard, and the Stonebreaker’s Yard, in which the leaders of the 1916 uprising were executed (see The Easter Rising).

  • Kilmainham Gate 6. Kilmainham Gate
    6. Kilmainham Gate

    This austere doorway is flanked by iron gates and sets the mood for a visit to the gaol. A long tree-lined avenue links the fine surroundings of the Kilmainham hospital to its much bleaker neighbour.

  • IMMA 7. IMMA
    7. IMMA

    Since its move here in 1991, the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) has made full use of the space available. There is a regularly changing resident collection so even the most regular visitor is likely to see something new. Innovative contemporary art features in touring exhibitions.

  • Gardens and Courtyard 8. Gardens and Courtyard
    8. Gardens and Courtyard

    The formal gardens of the hospital were designed by Edward Pearce between 1710 and 1720 to represent the crosses of St Andrew and St George. They are currently being restored to their former glory.

  • 9. Great Hall

    This grand room served as the soldiers’ dining room. The portraits of monarchs and viceroys, commissioned between 1690 and 1734, are the earliest surviving collection of institutional portraits in Ireland.

  • 10. Hospital Chapel

    The magnificent ceiling here unfortunately suffered decay at the end of the 19th century and what can now be seen is a papier mâché replica of the original. James Tabary, a Huguenot settler, carved the altar, reredos and rails from Irish oak in 1686.

Practical Information
An excellent café in the basement of the IMMA serves good vegetarian and organic dishes. The hospital grounds are vast, with lovely views, so if the weather is good they are ideal for a picnic. Kilmainham Gaol: Inchicore Rd, Dublin 8 01-453 5984 Open 9:30am–5:30pm Mon–Sat, 10am– 6pm Sun Adm €5.30 Kilmainham Hospital & IMMA: Royal Hospital, Military Rd, Dublin 8 01-612 9900 www.modernart.ie Open 10am–5:30pm Tue–Sat, noon–5:30pm Sun Dis. access Free Some rooms by guided tour only
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