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Cork City Gaol is a former prison, now a museum, located in Cork City, Ireland.
In 1806 an Act of Parliament was passed to allow the building of a new Cork City Gaol to replace the old gaol at the North Gate Bridge (the old gaol, which was nearly 100 years old, was on a confined site and was overcrowded and unhygienic). The first site chosen for the new prison was at distillery fields, but this site was later deemed to be unsuitable because it was prone to flooding. A site on Sunday's Well was eventually chosen, its altitude being seen as an advantage for containing "gaol fever" (typhus). The site, its approach roads and perimeters was commenced in 1816 and the building of the prison proper started in 1818.
I 100% recommend this place and pay the extra 2 euros for the audio guide. Very very interesting. The best thing I did in cork city.
Kathleen O'DonovanApr 20, 2018
It was a great day for my two boys and a great education for them. The gaol is very well kept and well run by professional staff. Thanks for a great day..
Brian BrosnanApr 4, 2018
Very interesting place to visit and take the tour. You walk through the jail to different locations with a guide map that has neat facts about how the jail operated, stories of prisoners that occupied it, and how life was inside the prison. The tour can be done in about 30-45 minutes depending on how fast you read. Definitely a must-see while you are in the area.
Courtney MurphyJan 29, 2018
Definitely worth a visit. Once is enough, could be slightly more informative. Beautiful building, surely many great stories to be told.
conor jordanApr 6, 2018
I thought the price was ok. It was around 32 euro for 4 of us and it was worth the hour. the videos at the end were a nice touch.well worth going to see and parking is not a problem. Stunning building beautiful bit of history and a lovely quick trip out if you dont have a huge amount of time.if your walking its not too far outside of the city and you have a beautiful walk along the way with some fantastic views
peter o reillyMar 19, 2018
Great museum inside this old prison and radio station. Things are set up so well and some scenes are recreated and the stories of some inmates are told. Also interesting is the park when the prison turned into a radio station. It might not mix but still they managed to provide a view into both worlds. Very interesting museum, I highly recommend visiting it. The price is very fair for what you get.
Philipp HolzhauserMay 18, 2018
This was better than we expected. Visiting from the US it gave an interesting perspective into Ireland. Spend the time to listen to the entire video at the end. Special exhibit on radio was worth the time
William GreenJun 18, 2018
8 euros per person is a bit steep for this walk-through tour. 2 euros extra for audio tour. Two people that over $20 USD. Need to request volunteers to do reenactment especially during the weekends what is like to be in the prison. This could be so much better if they just give it some thoughts from a tourist perspective.
Lawrence GoodrichJun 3, 2018
I visited Cork City Gaol on Saturday with my family it was a good experience for my young son to learn about life in the gaol in the past times they give u a hand held radio to listen to what was going on in the rooms numbered to the prisoners. I would go back and visit again
Pamela CondonJun 11, 2018
Ive been a few times over the years and always enjoy it. I recommend getting the headset and taking your time to go around in there. I encountered a very rude member of staff the last time i was there. She was very snappy and plain rude
Patricia Mc SweeneyMay 30, 2018
The Cork City Gaol Museum is an unexpected pleasure for most modern city-dwellers that are used to "Human Rights" and personal choices. On a limited budget, I'm sure, the Museum has been able to give the visitor a snapshot into the past handling of social misfits in the 19th Century. The accessability of the rooms and displays to the public is what brings the exhibit to a personal level for each visitor, including the ability to get into a cell, and put your head and arms in a pillory stock! During the heatwave of 2018, the inside was still reasonably cool, so I can't imagine how cold it must've been during the winters for the staff and prisoners.
Matthew StroupJul 5, 2018
Quite Gloomy place. But what I like the most is the architecture of this building. When the prison opened in the 1820 s it housed both male and female prisoners, whose crimes were committed within the city boundary. Anyone committing a crime outside that boundary were committed to the County Gaol, across the river from the City Gaol
Евгений ЛобанецJul 12, 2018
Amazing informative and interactive. Great for adults and kids alike. I highy recommend a visit here
Catherine ToweyJul 1, 2018
I 100% recommend this place and pay the extra 2 euros for the audio guide. Very very interesting. The best thing I did in cork city.
Kathleen O'DonovanApr 20, 2018
It was a great day for my two boys and a great education for them. The gaol is very well kept and well run by professional staff. Thanks for a great day..
Brian BrosnanApr 4, 2018
Very interesting place to visit and take the tour. You walk through the jail to different locations with a guide map that has neat facts about how the jail operated, stories of prisoners that occupied it, and how life was inside the prison. The tour can be done in about 30-45 minutes depending on how fast you read. Definitely a must-see while you are in the area.
Courtney MurphyJan 29, 2018
Definitely worth a visit. Once is enough, could be slightly more informative. Beautiful building, surely many great stories to be told.
conor jordanApr 6, 2018
I thought the price was ok. It was around 32 euro for 4 of us and it was worth the hour. the videos at the end were a nice touch.well worth going to see and parking is not a problem. Stunning building beautiful bit of history and a lovely quick trip out if you dont have a huge amount of time.if your walking its not too far outside of the city and you have a beautiful walk along the way with some fantastic views
peter o reillyMar 19, 2018
Great museum inside this old prison and radio station. Things are set up so well and some scenes are recreated and the stories of some inmates are told. Also interesting is the park when the prison turned into a radio station. It might not mix but still they managed to provide a view into both worlds. Very interesting museum, I highly recommend visiting it. The price is very fair for what you get.
Philipp HolzhauserMay 18, 2018
This was better than we expected. Visiting from the US it gave an interesting perspective into Ireland. Spend the time to listen to the entire video at the end. Special exhibit on radio was worth the time
William GreenJun 18, 2018
8 euros per person is a bit steep for this walk-through tour. 2 euros extra for audio tour. Two people that over $20 USD. Need to request volunteers to do reenactment especially during the weekends what is like to be in the prison. This could be so much better if they just give it some thoughts from a tourist perspective.
Lawrence GoodrichJun 3, 2018
I visited Cork City Gaol on Saturday with my family it was a good experience for my young son to learn about life in the gaol in the past times they give u a hand held radio to listen to what was going on in the rooms numbered to the prisoners. I would go back and visit again
Pamela CondonJun 11, 2018
Ive been a few times over the years and always enjoy it. I recommend getting the headset and taking your time to go around in there. I encountered a very rude member of staff the last time i was there. She was very snappy and plain rude
Patricia Mc SweeneyMay 30, 2018
The Cork City Gaol Museum is an unexpected pleasure for most modern city-dwellers that are used to "Human Rights" and personal choices. On a limited budget, I'm sure, the Museum has been able to give the visitor a snapshot into the past handling of social misfits in the 19th Century. The accessability of the rooms and displays to the public is what brings the exhibit to a personal level for each visitor, including the ability to get into a cell, and put your head and arms in a pillory stock! During the heatwave of 2018, the inside was still reasonably cool, so I can't imagine how cold it must've been during the winters for the staff and prisoners.
Matthew StroupJul 5, 2018
Quite Gloomy place. But what I like the most is the architecture of this building. When the prison opened in the 1820 s it housed both male and female prisoners, whose crimes were committed within the city boundary. Anyone committing a crime outside that boundary were committed to the County Gaol, across the river from the City Gaol
Евгений ЛобанецJul 12, 2018
Amazing informative and interactive. Great for adults and kids alike. I highy recommend a visit here
Catherine ToweyJul 1, 2018
I 100% recommend this place and pay the extra 2 euros for the audio guide. Very very interesting. The best thing I did in cork city.
Kathleen O'DonovanApr 20, 2018
It was a great day for my two boys and a great education for them. The gaol is very well kept and well run by professional staff. Thanks for a great day..
Brian BrosnanApr 4, 2018
Very interesting place to visit and take the tour. You walk through the jail to different locations with a guide map that has neat facts about how the jail operated, stories of prisoners that occupied it, and how life was inside the prison. The tour can be done in about 30-45 minutes depending on how fast you read. Definitely a must-see while you are in the area.
Courtney MurphyJan 29, 2018
Definitely worth a visit. Once is enough, could be slightly more informative. Beautiful building, surely many great stories to be told.
conor jordanApr 6, 2018
I thought the price was ok. It was around 32 euro for 4 of us and it was worth the hour. the videos at the end were a nice touch.well worth going to see and parking is not a problem. Stunning building beautiful bit of history and a lovely quick trip out if you dont have a huge amount of time.if your walking its not too far outside of the city and you have a beautiful walk along the way with some fantastic views
peter o reillyMar 19, 2018
Great museum inside this old prison and radio station. Things are set up so well and some scenes are recreated and the stories of some inmates are told. Also interesting is the park when the prison turned into a radio station. It might not mix but still they managed to provide a view into both worlds. Very interesting museum, I highly recommend visiting it. The price is very fair for what you get.
Philipp HolzhauserMay 18, 2018
This was better than we expected. Visiting from the US it gave an interesting perspective into Ireland. Spend the time to listen to the entire video at the end. Special exhibit on radio was worth the time
William GreenJun 18, 2018
8 euros per person is a bit steep for this walk-through tour. 2 euros extra for audio tour. Two people that over $20 USD. Need to request volunteers to do reenactment especially during the weekends what is like to be in the prison. This could be so much better if they just give it some thoughts from a tourist perspective.
Lawrence GoodrichJun 3, 2018
I visited Cork City Gaol on Saturday with my family it was a good experience for my young son to learn about life in the gaol in the past times they give u a hand held radio to listen to what was going on in the rooms numbered to the prisoners. I would go back and visit again
Pamela CondonJun 11, 2018
Ive been a few times over the years and always enjoy it. I recommend getting the headset and taking your time to go around in there. I encountered a very rude member of staff the last time i was there. She was very snappy and plain rude
Patricia Mc SweeneyMay 30, 2018
The Cork City Gaol Museum is an unexpected pleasure for most modern city-dwellers that are used to "Human Rights" and personal choices. On a limited budget, I'm sure, the Museum has been able to give the visitor a snapshot into the past handling of social misfits in the 19th Century. The accessability of the rooms and displays to the public is what brings the exhibit to a personal level for each visitor, including the ability to get into a cell, and put your head and arms in a pillory stock! During the heatwave of 2018, the inside was still reasonably cool, so I can't imagine how cold it must've been during the winters for the staff and prisoners.
Matthew StroupJul 5, 2018
Quite Gloomy place. But what I like the most is the architecture of this building. When the prison opened in the 1820 s it housed both male and female prisoners, whose crimes were committed within the city boundary. Anyone committing a crime outside that boundary were committed to the County Gaol, across the river from the City Gaol
Евгений ЛобанецJul 12, 2018
Amazing informative and interactive. Great for adults and kids alike. I highy recommend a visit here
Catherine ToweyJul 1, 2018
| Monday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
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