Wicklow’s Historic Gaol

Wicklow Gaol, right in the heart of Wicklow town, is well worth a visit if you’re in that part of the South East. You can journey through the Gaol on your own with the help of a very good interactive system (multimedia audio handsets are provided) which takes you way back in time to the 1700’s. There are wonderful holographic projections of cruel prison guards with realistic sounds of cries from the 1798 rebels and other prisoners. Three prison floors have been transformed and actually preserved (with original graffiti still visible) to give a very good visual recreation of Irish History, spread over 200 years, through the eyes of the inmates.
If you are a bit squeamish, then I would avoid the dungeon for here you will see the torture methods used, the horrid ill treatment of prisoners, lots of whom were incarcerated for petty crime such as stealing food and clothes etc. You will learn about the agonizing journey of prisoners, some as young as 11 years old, to Van Diemen’s Land, experience the overcrowding and spread of dreadful and fatal diseases during the famine era, and also learn about the Irish War of Independence and the Civil War following which the Wicklow Gaol closed its prison doors for good.
I understand the Museum caters for School tours and kids parties as well as spooky banquets for special occasions and nighttime tours.

This fantastic historic resource has almost had the chop a few times over the past few years (a bit like some of the past inmates heads come to think of it!) … I sincerely hope it survives the impending draconian cuts about to be imposed by the muppets in charge of our green shore.
Anyway, its one of the better tours on the southeast coast. The head Jailer starts out as your guide and welcomes you to the last stop before being committed to a torturous journey across the sea to hard labour in some far flung shore down under — in most cases in those days it was a one way ticket, a ticket the Jailer reminded me that could be had, for something as simple as catching a rabbit because your children were hungry…
The prison is a sombre place and manages to evoke deep feelings — take your time to really examine the artifacts — lift the lids of the wooden seat/​beds and read the (genuine) inscriptions carved underneath as an epitaph by those who had a one way sailing…
My tip for visiting this place is to call them well in advance — they sometimes have ghost evenings, pig roasts and wine evenings — it can only add to the atmosphere so well worth maximising your trip/​time!