Wicklow's Historic Gaol
About
The gaol on Kilmantin Hill is the town's flagship indoor attraction and the reason a lot of people come to Wicklow at all. It held prisoners through two of the harshest centuries in Irish history, including men taken after the 1798 rebellion and people transported to Australia, and it stayed in use until 1924 before being restored as a museum with costumed figures, a replica prison ship and, in recent years, a virtual reality tour. Read this before you plan around it: the gaol has been closed since 26 September 2025 while Wicklow County Council carries out repairs and re-tenders the operation. RTE reported the closure at the time, the council said it hoped to have a new operator in place for the following summer's season, and East Coast FM reported in July 2026 that Coredate Limited had been approved as operator with a reopening expected later that summer. Re-checked on 28 August 2026: the gaol is still shut. Its official site, wicklowgaol.ie, is now live where it was unreachable in early August, and it says only 'Reopening soon' with a mailing list to join; it publishes no date, no hours and no prices. Summer is effectively over and the July expectation of a reopening 'later this summer' has not been met. Check before you travel, and do not build a wet day around it.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓A county gaol in use from the 18th century until 1924, on the hill above the town
- ✓Exhibits on the 1798 rebellion, transportation to Australia, the Famine years and the War of Independence
- ✓The Halpin Room, on the Wicklow-born captain of the Great Eastern
- ✓A genealogy service for people tracing Wicklow ancestors
Tips
- →Still closed as of 28 August 2026. The official site, wicklowgaol.ie, says 'Reopening soon' and gives no date. Confirm it has reopened before you plan a visit around it.
- →When it reopens it will be under a new operator, so previous prices, hours and tour formats should not be assumed to carry over.
- →It is a five-minute uphill walk from Market Square, on the same hill as the An Tairseach farm shop.
Best Season
More Attraction Activities
The Black Castle
The free, unfenced Norman ruin on the promontory above the harbour mouth, with the best short view in the town.
Wicklow Head and its Lighthouses
The easternmost point of the Republic of Ireland, with three lighthouse towers on one headland, one of them let as self-catering accommodation.
Wicklow Harbour and the East Pier
A working commercial port with a fishing fleet, a timber quay and an RNLI station on station since 1857. Walk the East Pier out to the light.