Cork City Gaol Heritage Center

The idea for a city gaol originated with an act of Parliament in 1804. The actual complex did not open to accept inmates until 1824. Several sites were considered, and the hillside site chosen began excavation and construction in 1816 with red sandstone from the quarries below, creating access roads and perimeter walls. Sir Thomas Deane, the gaol’s architect, fashioned the structures in Georgian Gothic style, and its appearance is more reminiscent of a castle than a prison complex. The Cork City Gaol housed a long and impressive list of inmates until it was closed in 1923.

Inside the protective shell of its outer walls, the main building forms a shape like the letter H. The Governor’s House, located in the center of the complex, now hosts the Radio Museum, the former headquarters of 6CK Cork Broadcasting System. The station opened in April of 1927 in the vacant gaol building, an optimal choice as it was secure and situated high upon a hillside. Another part of the building was occupied by Radio Eirann beginning in the 1950s.

In the beginning, the gaol served as a holding area for prisoners destined for Australia via convict ships. In the mid 1800s, it housed rebels from the Young Irelanders, and Fenians, in the 1900’s the Countess Markiewicz stayed there, and in the 1920’s, participants in the Civil War.

The gaol building contains authentic furnished cells, complete with lifelike wax figures. Audiovisuals along the tour tell the stories of individual prisoners. It is said that some went mad because of the practices of isolating prisoners in an environment of complete silence, said to allow them more complete contemplation of their actions.

The tour is available in 8 languages, and the museum offers tours and lectures for private and educational groups.