Famous Irish Gaol Braces For Another Winter of Uncertainty by Kenneth Long

As the prospect of another winter in lockdown seems to loom large in Ireland, one of Dublin 8’s finest historical landmarks braces for new restrictions and lockdowns. the past year we could not, so we’re trying to get schools booking in. We are hoping that we will be able to,” explains David Robson, who has worked at the Gaol for the OPW since 2016.

Kilmainham Gaol is one of the most significant historical sites in Ireland. Its walking tours are hugely popular amongst Irish people and tourists alike. The dedicated work done by the Office of Public Works (OPW) staff there has seen it survive the pandemic thus far, but with Taoiseach Martin’s comments today, clearly Kilmainham Gaol is not out of the woods yet. “

So what plans are afoot heading into Kilmainham Gaol’s second Covid winter? “Some of the guys inside were actually working on a virtual online tour there during the last lockdown” Mr

Robson describes these tours as “a tour aimed for school kids because, probably the biggest loss while we were shut down was actually the kids, we were always taking school tours.”

The Gaol didn’t return to full functionality after coming out of the last lockdown:“We are always very passionate about bringing school tours into the Gaol, and of course during lockdown for “

So far, the pandemic has caused Kilmainham Gaol to close its doors for 15 months, which is 15 months more than the impassioned staff would rather. When asked what it is like to work in the Gaol, Mr. Robson explained “it is great to kind of feel like almost a guardian of that stories as such you know, it’s a corny thing to say but you know it is something you feel like you know.”

When Kilmainham was restored in the 1960’s one of the main aims of it was to educate future generations on their heritage and their history

But even in a cloud so dark a silver lining lingers, Kilmainham Gaol is a two-hundred-year-old building that constantly requires maintenance. Throughout its lifetime as a Gaol it saw a total of 150,000 prisoners but as a museum it was seeing over 400,000 visitors a year, “our priority in Kilmainham is to protect the national monument and preserve it for future generations so it’s no harm the Gaol itself got bit of a breather.”

Kilmainham might be missed for now by those who visit and work there, but it will surely be there for longer now that it has had such a breather. Whatever happens next with the pandemic, Ireland’s most historic Gaol will keep.

Staff at Kilmainham Gaol outside the old courthouse entrance. Photo by Kenneth Long