Cork City Gaol facts for kids
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 Location in Ireland
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| Location | Convent Avenue, Sunday's Well, Cork |
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| Coordinates | 51°53′58″N 8°29′56″W / 51.899530°N 8.499022°W |
| Status | museum prison |
| Opened | 1824 |
| Closed | August 1923 |
Cork City Gaol is a historic building in Cork City, Ireland. It used to be a prison, but now it's a popular museum. It teaches visitors about what life was like for prisoners in the past.
Contents
History of Cork City Gaol
In 1806, a new law was passed to build a better prison in Cork City. The old prison was almost 100 years old. It was too small, crowded, and not very clean.
Building the New Gaol
The first place chosen for the new prison wasn't good because it often flooded. So, a new spot was picked on Sunday's Well. This high location was thought to help prevent "gaol fever," which was a sickness like typhus.
Work on the prison grounds began in 1816. The main building started in 1818. The famous architect William Robertson designed the building. A well-known sculptor, John Hogan, also worked on the plans.
What the Gaol Looked Like
The new Cork City Gaol opened its doors in 1824. People at the time said it was "the finest in 3 kingdoms." This meant it was one of the best prisons around!
In 1870, part of the prison, called the west wing, was changed. It was updated to have cells on both sides of a hallway.
Who Was Held at the City Gaol?
When the prison first opened, it held both men and women. These were people who had committed crimes inside the city limits. If someone committed a crime outside the city, they would go to the Cork County Gaol. This other prison was across the river.
Famous Prisoners in the 1800s
One notable person held at Cork City Gaol was Brian Dillon. He was a political activist known as a Fenian. He was arrested in September 1865 and held here.
Becoming a Women's Prison
In 1878, a new law changed how prisons in Cork worked. Cork City Gaol became a prison only for women. It held women from both Cork City and Cork County. At the same time, the Cork County Gaol became a prison only for men.
On the day the change happened, male prisoners walked out of Cork City Gaol. They went to the men's prison. Women prisoners walked in the opposite direction to their new prison.
Life for Women Prisoners
Many women in the late 1800s were sent to prison multiple times. They were often locked up for minor offenses that might not lead to prison today. For example, a woman named Mary Tucker was imprisoned several times for small rule-breaking.
Women in the 1900s
During the Irish War of Independence, many Republican women were imprisoned here. These women were fighting for Ireland's independence.
- In October 1919, Constance Markievicz was held at Cork Gaol. She was a very important political figure. She was the first woman ever elected to the British Parliament. She was imprisoned for giving a speech that authorities didn't like.
- In January 1919, Mary Bowles, another Republican woman, was imprisoned. She was held for offenses related to weapons.
- Later that month, a Republican prisoner named Dolly Burke managed to escape from the prison.
During the Civil War
In 1922 and 1923, during the Irish Civil War, the prison was used again. It held both male and female Republican prisoners. These were people who did not agree with the Anglo-Irish Treaty.
The famous writer Frank O'Connor was one of the people imprisoned here during this time.
A Daring Escape
In November 1923, a very exciting escape happened from the gaol. Some prisoners pretended to be sick to help their plan. They made a rope ladder to climb over the outer wall. They also used bedsheets to climb down inside the wall at night.
The prisoners had to hide in the shadows of the wall. They waited for the moon to be in the right spot so they wouldn't be seen by the guards. They escaped in groups of fourteen. The most wanted prisoners went first. In total, 42 men escaped that night! It was a very cold night, and they had to walk in their socks. Some of them were caught later, but many got away.
The gaol officially closed in August 1923. All the remaining prisoners were either set free or moved to other prisons.
What Happened After 1923
After closing as a prison, the building found a new use. From 1927, the top floor of the Governor's house became a radio station. It was called 6CK, and it was the first official radio station in Cork.
Later, a national radio station, Radio Éireann (now Raidió Teilifís Éireann), took over. Radio broadcasting continued from the gaol until the 1950s. After that, the prison complex was left empty and became very run down.
Cork City Gaol as a Museum
Luckily, the building was saved! In 1993, Cork City Gaol reopened to the public. Today, it is a popular museum where visitors can learn about its long and interesting history.
Former Prisoners
- Brian Dillon, imprisoned in 1865
- Constance Markievicz, imprisoned in 1919
- Frank O'Connor (born Michael Francis O'Connor O'Donovan), imprisoned in 1923
Images for kids
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A view of Cork City Gaol today.
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The main gatehouse of the Gaol.
