Cork City Gaol

I visited on a Wednesday in the early afternoon and it was pleasantly quiet, with only a few other visitors around. I did the self-guided tour and spent about two hours exploring at my own pace, which felt just right to properly take everything in. The exhibits are very well presented and genuinely immersive. The layout allows you to move through the building naturally, and the atmosphere of the preserved cells really adds to the experience. Even without using the audio guide, there was plenty of clear, informative material throughout. What surprised me most was learning about the severity of punishments for what would now be considered very minor offences. Seeing cells that once held young children was particularly striking and quite moving. It really makes you reflect on how different life was at that time. Overall, I thought it was very good value for money and I would recommend it to everyone — not just tourists, but locals as well. It’s an important and thought-provoking part of Cork’s history.

Terrific place to visit. There was a small amount of parking available directly out the front of the Gaol. An audio guide provided valuable information on the history along with stories of many prisoners that spent time there. The Goal was partially refurbished which blended in well with the original building still in place and visible.

Really fascinating place. Its been partially restored, and gives you a great understanding of what life would have been like for those incarcerated here, plus it demonstrates how far we have come in our approach to crime & punishment. We did the self tour for 11 euro each, and it was a very thought provoking place to visit

Well preserved jail. Loved the rich history and tragic stories that these stone walls hold. If you go, walk the whole grounds and do the guided tour. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. In my humble opinion, early January is a great time with very little crowds. There is a radio museum there that could use a bit of imagination to make it better.

Absolutely fantastic!!! The children were given a little quiz where they had to answer questions to get a prize at the gift shop. This made sure that they listened carefully and made it all the more enjoyable for us adults. The staff were all lovely and very friendly and informative. Even if you don't have children I recommend coming here as it gives you a great insight into history

The Cork City Gaol is a very well done tourist experience. You can walk through an easily navigated self guided (and guided for an extra fee) tour and experience the stories of this historic space. Each station gives you a ton of information and creates a narrative of what it was like to be jailed here decades ago. The tour is mostly filled with plaque mounted info stations but there are a few interactive elements as well including the very cool radio museum on the top floor. Don’t be discouraged by the very creepy mannequins at each station - they just add to the character.

Was great experience, and I would recommend taking audio guide which justs costs 2 euro. Stories about prisoners and other information around the museum was quite interesting. There was also a radio museum inside which was not that good.

Fantastic place to go for a day out! The Cork City Gaol is very rich in history, and there's really no other place like it. We booked a guided tour, and the tour guide (Chloe - I hope this is the right spelling!), was very informative, engaging, and friendly. I usually get antsy if I have to stay still for long periods of time, but that 45 minutes flew by so fast because of how interesting it was. Highly recommend to anyone looking for something to do!

This is a gem that all must visit. And take the guided tour!!! Rory was a great tour guide and didn't even feel like an hour plus had gone by. Fiona was always very nice and informative at the gift shop. Don't be deterred during the winter time, just dress in some layers and enjoy the ambience of the space!

Very somber, humbling experience to visit what used to be previously a jail. It is honest in its description of the human rights violations that used to occur not only in Ireland, but throughout the world in the 1800's and early 1900's. You can still see scratches on the walls where the prisoners cried out for help. Some of them were children when they were here, some were pregnant women. The audio guide is a must, I am glad I purchased it when walking through the museum. It's easy to use and explains the exhibits in depth. At the end of the tour there is a gift shop, and the lovely employees were very helpful and courteous and took their time to answer all my questions about the site. One of the employees told me that at one point they were thinking of making it into a hotel but its past history was just too sad. Overall, I thought this was a moving experience I wouldn't want anyone to miss.

Highly, highly recommend adding this to your Cork bucket list! The reading tour is 10 euros; I believe the audio tour was 15 euros. We got to tour the prison grounds and learn about life in the prison, all while doing the reading tour. It was very eye opening, but very informative as well.

Why this only has 4 stars is beyond me. Is it tacky? Sure, a little. There are posed wax figures all over the place illustrating history. For an adult, that's completely useless, but maybe it helps kids understand. A lot of the exhibits are geared toward kids in how they're worded and presented, but there is plenty of info for adults to read. I also like that they've preserved views of a couple of unrestored corridors and the kitchen out back. If I had been on the fence about the star rating for the gaol, I would not hesitate to round up based on my conversation with the "gatekeeper" (hostess?), who told me that the gaol does indeed plan to add an outdoor walkway past some of the areas that are currently inaccessible and poorly viewed. They can't do more because the rest of the gaol is filled with endangered bats! I... cannot possibly hold it against any place for not wanting to run afoul of endangered species laws, especially a former prison. As much as I'd love to explore the abandoned 3rd floor and get spoopy with it, I'm glad they've preserved and restored as much as they have. It's a little smaller than the big Victorian chamber in Waterford, but I've done both and I enjoyed both, so you won't go wrong seeing this one even if you've done or are planning to do the other. Different experiences. Plus Cork has a radio exhibit on the 3rd floor! Surprises! I won't give them away.

We were staying in Cork for 2.5 days so we made it a point to go to the gaol. It was a neat experience, especially with how you could go into the cells, see the walls, try a bed and walk around. What's a bummer is you learn about much more of the grounds, but can only go into a limited portion of it. I would've loved to have been able to see more of it but you did get a good sense of the experience people went through. I'd say it's worth a stop.

Maybe this is the sad small apartment New Yorker in me talking - but I thought the presentation of the prison actually made it seem - I don't know - not that bad?? It was clean and bright and smelled fine - I guess I couldn't really get a great idea of how bad it was to be in a Gaol. Perhaps it was because I was there on a beautiful late summer's day and the sunshine was pouring in the skylights. It was an interesting place to visit and I liked the weirdo wax figures and the self guided tour, but it just was not as macabre as I was expecting.

Discount with voucher from cork city guide This prison gives you clear inside on how it must have been for the inmates. Quite shocking at times when you find out why they have been put in jail and also who. The museum is easy to walk through, provides the information you need and I could not help it but afterwords I left the place a little bit gutted and sad. If you have some spare time in Cork or if you catch a rainy day make your way up to the goal and experience a different past life.

I sincerely enjoyed walking around the Cork City Goal. The grounds and architecture is so beautiful, you almost forget the jail's grim history. My friend and I opted for the reading tour, instead of the audio one, because we didn't want to carry a bunch of equipment around. The tour mostly consists of going to different parts of the jail and reading about that area's purpose or who might have inhabited it. These days, the "inhabitants" consist of creepy wax figures who represent recorded prisoners or employees of the jail. My favorite part of the tour was the cell where the Republican prisoners left writings on the walls. All prisoners' stories are heavy. Make sure to watch the video that's shown at the end of the exhibit (it's in the room accessible through the gift shop.) The €6 I spent on the student ticket was definitely worth it.

This has got to be one of the best jails I've been in. Hahahah just kidding. But seriously this has been converted fantastically well into a self guided tour of the old Cork City Jail. Instead of following a tour guide around you are left to your own devices and allowed to explore at your own pace. The idea behind this gaol is that you are introduced to some of the less well known and "regular" prisoners that were kept here and encouraged to put yourself in their own shoes. There are various stops along the way with a great booklet explaining each case/cell/area all recreated with chilling models depicting the scene. Really really spooky and cool! At the end of the tour there is a surprisingly good audiovisual presentation that is just great. Make sure you arrive at the beginning or you will be a bit lost. Overall this is a very interesting and informative presentation and I would recommend it to anyone. (Quick tip: in the Cork whats on guide there is entry for 2 people for €12, check it out.)

Visited here with my 6 year old Nephew on April 9th. It was a good way to spend an hour. Close to Cork city. Free parking. Cheap entry. Not too packed with people. Would possibly return.

THE GUARDHOUSE at Cork City Gaol 21.09.10 It is seldom that the Guardhouse of the Cork City Gaol is open to the public, even though the entrance to the whole complex is through the guardhouse door. It was open recently for an arts and crafts show and I took advantage to visit. There are some fine views of the city from the top floor, though you should remember that you will be looking through bars. Also remember, as you exit, that prisoners were hanged over the entrance. CORK CITY GAOL Picked up a sentence in Sunday's Well at the weekend and had to spend some time in the Cork City Gaol; even had to pay to get in! But it was all very enjoyable as this long standing attraction is well worth a visit and I hadn't been in a long time. The buildings themselves are quite impressive and so is the story of the institution which, after years of planning (plus ça change...), opened in 1824 and operated until 1923. Lifelike (wax) figures are dotted throughout the landings and the cells and one of the good things about the tour is that visit is concentrated on a few named individuals. True, it had some famous prisoners (such as Countess Markievicz) but you will hear mainly of the petty thief, the prostitute, the drunkard, the kid and the chancher. You take the tour with the aid of an audio guide which is really excellent despite the fact that it keeps mentioning a yellow button which it does not possess. The tours are in 12 different languages and that has to be a huge plus. Well done to all concerned here. The staff are young and efficient but I thought they could be a bit more outgoing in greeting people, just a little of the usual smiling Cork confidence wouldn't go astray here. After all, today's visitors haven't been sentenced. By the way, my inmate number was 228784 and, after reading the harrowing account of the first hanging outside the gaol in 1828, I didn't linger too long and made good my escape. But not before I handed back by audio set! 021 4305022 http://www.corkcitygaol.com

If you have a few hours to spare this old jail is well worth a visit. Very interesting site and informative audio tour. About 4.5 euros to get in. Very eirey and slightly depressing. Staff are friendly and helpful.

This prison was built in the 19th century. It is very historic. Executions took place here. As recently as 1867 people were executed on the prison walls so that a crowd could watch. The prison is one of the most scintillating sites in Cork. It was closed for decades. One can walk around and into cells. There are quite pokey. There are many displays. The places is most informative and interactive. There is a good audiovisual. Admission is not too steep. Ther place is very sturdily built. It would have been very hard to escape from because of the height of the walls and the huge moat. Grafitti from famous prisoners such as Tom Barry is preserved.

One of the places you really need to visit while in Cork. Close to the city centre so no excuses for missing it. Great value for money and an interesting slice of Cork history.

Interesting enough, will pass an hour on a rainy day, very simple, will keep kids entertained.

Enjoyed this tour. Or guide Trevor was quick witted and kept our interest for the full 45 minute tour. Fun learning about the history of the prison and walking down the original 200 year old stairs.

Brilliant! It's a bit of a walk outside of Cork and up hill, but the view of the city below is fantastic. The architecture of this Gaol is that of a castle and quite impressive. The tour is €6 for students and I found it well worth it. They give you an audio guide (that comes in a variety of languages such as French, German, Spanish, Italian and a few others) that tells the story of how the jail functioned during the time it was in operation from 1824 - 1923. The jail has wax figures located in some of the open cells that are so life like it's a bit creepy! This tour is interactive because you can climb the stairs of the Victorian ward and watch a film about the judicial process at the end. Bring a jacket it's cold inside!

Great tour of the main jail and AMAZING grounds. The Gaol audio tour was a little slow but we went during the off season and I imagine it is timed for maneuvering around crowds... pack your patience and watch the video at the end projected on the walls for a unique historical perspective into the life of the prisoners. After the tour, be sure to walk around the grounds... looking at the main building, walk to the left and around the back (to the right is fenced off) where you'll find the wardens house that is in ruins and easily accessible. The amount of garbage left behind is a little disappointing but the structure and the vines climbing the stairs to a fallen upstairs is beautiful.

I visited this a long time ago (I was probably 10 at the time) but it clearly left a big impact on me since I still remember it so well! The tour takes you around the cells and includes stories of former prisoners, including children, whose often minor petty crimes landed them in the prison. Not sure if it;s still there but my favourite part was the "illusion" of the ghost of a little girl who appears along a corridor. Well worth a visit and something that children who like to be a little scared will enjoy!

Go to the Kilmainhan gaol in Dublin, it's so much better. The Cork gaol doesn't have much to see inside, but it is nice to look at from the outside. The grounds are pretty and there are areas to walk around. When we went they hadn't locked doors that they were supposed to, so we got a bit of a VIP tour exploring the hidden areas in the castle. That was pretty cool, and the fact that we weren't supposed to be exploring that area made it even better. That area will be open to visitors sometime soon- they are currently renovating it