Wicklow Gaol, Prison museum in County Wicklow, Ireland
Wicklow Gaol is a three-story granite and brick building in County Wicklow that serves as a prison museum. It holds original cells, corridors, and a dungeon showing how prisoners lived from the 1700s until 1924.
The building was first constructed in 1702 and completed in 1843 by architect William Vitruvius Morrison. During its time as an active prison, it held inmates through the 1798 Rebellion and the Great Famine.
The tours show how prisoners lived and worked across different time periods. Visitors see what daily life looked like in the cells and what role the prison played in the community.
Plan to spend about 90 minutes to see all exhibits and explore the different areas. The site offers audio guides in several languages, a café, and is accessible for visitors of different abilities.
The museum uses holograms and interactive displays to recreate conversations between guards and prisoners from historical times. These technological installations help visitors understand the history in a vivid way that goes beyond simple exhibits.
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