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Did you help restore Kilmainham Gaol? Ireland wants to thank you

The restoration work done in the 1960s saved the building from ruins.

KILMAINHAM GAOL IS a popular tourist hotspot in Dublin today with about 330,000 visitors passing through the gates each year.

The fascinating tours of one of Europe’s largest unoccupied gaols, however, would not have been possible if not for a group of unpaid workers in the 1960s who dedicated time and resources to restoring the buildings.

Between 1924 and 1960, the gaol had descended into decay and disrepair. Roofs had fallen in, trees and weeds grew everywhere and it was described at the time as an “unsightly ruin and a public eyesore”.

In 1959, a small group of people formed a committee which included a librarian, architect and engineer. They drafted a scheme for the completion of renovations which would take five years – gambling on the assumption that they could attract voluntary labour, free materials and donations.

It worked.

The government approved. The builders donated. The volunteers came – and stayed. And, importantly, cheques were sent.

On 21 May 1960, with the keys handed over to the trustees, the mammoth task began. In a pamphlet about the restoration, the committee wrote:

So outstanding a reservoir of national memories is assuredly worth preserving as a historical museum.

It was the place where United Irishmen including Henry Joy McCracken and Robert Emmet were imprisoned. Anne Devlin was tortured in attempts to get her to betray Emmet and his comrades.

Men of the Young Ireland Movement of 1848 were incarcerated there, as were Fenians in 1865 and 1867.

The chapel saw the marriage of Joseph Plunkett and Grace Gifford in the hours before his execution.

It was in its courtyard that Padraig Pearse, Thomas Clarke and James Connolly faced the firing squad in 1916.

Kilmainham Jail, Dublin, Ireland Mark Heard Mark Heard

“Kilmainham Jail is at once a symbol and a memorial,” the committee wrote in 1960.

A symbol of the centuries of tyranny exercised by an alien government over the Irish people: a memorial to the unconquerable spirit of patriot men and women who languished within its dungeons or who were executed beneath the shadow of its walls.

Their passionate plea inspired the volunteers who worked painstakingly over the next five years to restore the gaol.

Kilmainham Gaol was formally opened as a museum in 1966 by President Eamon de Valera on the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Rising.

Kilmainham Gaol (Jail) larrywkoester larrywkoester

Now, over 50 years on, the State wants to thank those workers, of which there were 100s.

Junior minister Simon Harris is hoping to seek out each volunteer to ensure their achievements are recognised during next year’s commemoration events.

“We want as many people as possible who were involved in the restoration works to come forward,” he said. ”These people worked tirelessly for many years on an unpaid basis so that the Gaol could be saved from total decay and it is our intention that their effort will be recognised publicly during 2016.”

Chairman of the gaol’s board of visitors said that while many of the volunteers are still known, they have “lost track” of many. Others have passed away.

“We are very anxious therefore to gather a full record of all the people who took part before the memory of what they achieved fades away,” Damien Cassidy continued, adding that family members of deceased volunteers should also get in touch.

Former restoration workers, or family members of former workers should email: kilmainhamgaolworkers@opw.ie or write to:

Kilmainham Gaol Museum
(Archive Section – Voluntary Workers Project)
Inchicore Road, Kilmainham,
Dublin 8. D08 T2X5. Ireland.

More: This amazing Irish rebel wounded in the Easter Rising is finally getting some recognition

Read: Are you a child of the 1916 Rising? This musical project wants you

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44 Comments
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    Mute Muiris O'Daltuin
    Favourite Muiris O'Daltuin
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    Oct 31st 2015, 9:51 AM

    You can keep your Diageo Store House Tour, for me Kilmainham Gaol is the best tourist attraction in the country. No other place in Ireland comes near it. They work it on a first come first serve basis so if you wanna see it get there early. Numbers are limited, so even if you get there early morning, you may not get a tour till late afternoon. You can always hit Collins Baracks to kill the time if you don’t get a place on the early tours. Trust me, it’s worth the wait.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Oct 31st 2015, 10:42 AM

    Fantastic, historical building. I never knew this wonderful story of Irish people saving it as volunteers. I would like to add my voice of thanks to those who saved it for mine and future generations.

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    Mute Joachin Peiper
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    Oct 31st 2015, 12:09 PM

    Muiris…couldnt agree more,an essential part of growing up for primary school kids…should be compulsory on the curriculum.And…for context..at 33,000 visits per annum it compares with France’s Mont San Michel which has up to 10,000 visitors per day…that’s a lotta heads…

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    Mute Thomas Mac Donagh
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    Oct 31st 2015, 12:59 PM

    wow you want to force children to learn this crap. fascist much?

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    Mute BevinArmageddon
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    Oct 31st 2015, 1:11 PM

    So teaching children about Irish history equals fascism to you?

    44
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    Mute Fred Coloe
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    Oct 31st 2015, 3:05 PM

    Thomas…are you ashamed of your nationality and history??

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    Mute Pete Gibson
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    Oct 31st 2015, 4:13 PM

    If you think that a miserable Dublin jail is the best tourist attraction in the the country then you are rather sad.
    Ever seen the spectacular West of Ireland?

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    Mute Muiris O'Daltuin
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    Oct 31st 2015, 4:59 PM

    Yeah I have seen the West of Ireland. Nothing over there has a patch on Wicklow so get over yourself. The east is where its at.

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    Mute BevinArmageddon
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    Oct 31st 2015, 5:46 PM

    That is probably the stupidest comment I’ve heard in a long time, Pete. It is one of the best sites to visit in the country. And guess what, it is actually possible to appreciate the west of Ireland, while also appreciating the historical value that Kilmainham holds. They’re not in direct competition with each other!

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    Mute brian magee
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    Oct 31st 2015, 9:44 AM

    How many films has it being used for ? I heard its one if the most recognisable gaols in the world

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    Mute John Clarke
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    Oct 31st 2015, 11:03 PM

    Fantastic place. A national treasure.

    14
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    Mute Al Ca
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    Oct 31st 2015, 10:18 AM

    I want to thank all those volunteers who saved a building of such historical and national importance, they showed great vision and tenacity when others with the responsibility had none……thank you!

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    Mute Paul Wallace
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    Oct 31st 2015, 9:50 AM

    Can you guys settle a debate for me…I went on the Dublin walking tour a view years back and was told that the Easter uprising was very unpopular with many Irish people until the Rebels were executed by the Brits. Then the Irish public’s attitudes changed. I have friends who say this nonsense and the uprising was popular right from the start yet I see heritage Ireland etc dispute this view….comments please for a Welshman wanting the truth.

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    Mute Timmy Og Daly
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    Oct 31st 2015, 10:01 AM

    Yes, especially after James Connolly was shot in a chair as he couldnt stand because of wounds from the battle

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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Oct 31st 2015, 10:17 AM

    Fact is the rising would never have reached the planning stages if it weren’t for national and international support, community support would be essential to ensure an operational city wide rebellion. Stories of the rebels receiving a hostile reception from locals were carried by British editorials at the time and are highly debatable. In fact it was British artillery that flattened the city and caused most of the civilian deaths, there was outrage afterwards towards the army for massacres committed by the troops but these shootings were not covered by the press at the time. With the centenary approaching I think more should be done to remember the unarmed civilians who were butchered in King St.

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    Mute Muiris O'Daltuin
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    Oct 31st 2015, 10:22 AM

    The paper of record of the time was very much pro union, as were the ruling class of the day. If you read articles from the Irish Times from that era they will tell you that the Revolution (or Rising as it’s come to be known) was an idiotic, self destructive exercise that brought shame to the Empires second City and to the good honest law abiding Irish citizens of Great Britain. If however you read accounts from witness who were on the ground or involved in the struggle the accounts are very different. There was huge support for this on the ground. People were making canister bombs and rounds of ammunition on an industrial scale for months leading up to April 1916. The planning and preparation was a huge undertaking and could not have been done without the help of the ordinary man/woman on the street. Plus it was all kept under wraps by those very same men and women which demonstrates a level of loyalty that makes a mockery of the claims that the people of Ireland were not supportive of the Republican cause. The Rising was as pure a revolution as there has ever been anywhere in the world. We should be proud of what was achieved. We may have lost the battle, but we ultimately won our independence because of the actions taken by ordinary men and women no ordinary Easter Monday morning.

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    Mute Marv
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    Oct 31st 2015, 10:53 AM

    Their goal wasn’t achieved,the wanted a whole Ireland and didn’t get it.

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    Mute Thomas Mac Donagh
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    Oct 31st 2015, 12:01 PM

    they were spat on as they were led away, take what you want from that

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    Mute Joachin Peiper
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    Oct 31st 2015, 1:31 PM

    Thomas…You were there? any photos?

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    Mute EDDIE BARRETT
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    Oct 31st 2015, 6:15 PM

    Thomas – Bet you are spat at regularly too , you old boring guttersnipe !!!

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    Mute Alan De Morrighan
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    Oct 31st 2015, 11:19 PM

    When the revolutionaries were dragged out of the General Post Office they had to be surrounded by “British” troops (the majority of which were actually Irish, no surprise as we were part of Britain at that time) to protect them from the public who were ready to batter them (the revolutionaries).

    It is true however that once the prisoners were executed then public opinion did a 180.

    Again it’s worth noting that a lot of Crown troops deployed were Irish born and reared and were usually noobies / low rank as WWI was drawing in experienced bodies at a frightening pace so they were the only ones left to deploy against the rebels.

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    Mute Nial de Brun
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    Oct 31st 2015, 10:32 AM

    I would gladly contribute some of my tax money to its restoration over paying interest on bank debt!
    To answer our Welshman’s question I would say the papers of record at the time such as the Independent and the Times were like today pro establishment and very much against upsetting the homogeny with Britain.

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    Mute pjm
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    Oct 31st 2015, 10:57 AM

    If you want the Irish nationalist reaction to the Rising the Freemans Journal is the place to look.

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    Mute EDDIE BARRETT
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    Oct 31st 2015, 11:39 AM

    In 1965 , our Family contributed the letters of Michael Collins to Austin Stack, to the Committee there – I recall that there were more then fifty letters involved .
    It was a very moving day – The Committees work there, over 55 years , has been mega .

    Well done Sinéad O’Carroll for featuring it !

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    Mute Thomas Mac Donagh
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    Oct 31st 2015, 1:01 PM

    wouldnt it make a great nite club

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    Mute Diarmuid
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    Oct 31st 2015, 2:56 PM

    Was this before or after Stack betrayed Michael Collins, the traitor that he was…

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    Mute EDDIE BARRETT
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    Oct 31st 2015, 6:22 PM

    “Diarmuid” – You are a vile Troll, of the worst sort , stating that lie against my Granduncles memory and place in history.

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    Mute Diarmuid
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    Oct 31st 2015, 11:15 PM

    Lol.

    Stack betrayed Collins and fought against him in the civil war.

    He also ignored the democratic will of the Irish people.

    His vile crackpot disdain for democracy clearly runs in the family.

    3
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    Mute Harry Foley
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    Oct 31st 2015, 10:27 AM

    Opening Kilmainham jail in 1966 is the only decent thing that DeValera done for our country

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Oct 31st 2015, 1:05 PM

    In fairness to devalera he kept Ireland out of WW2.

    16
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    Mute Harry Foley
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    Oct 31st 2015, 3:46 PM

    There was nothing fair about that devious git where did the money from the states go ! Into the family coffers

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Oct 31st 2015, 4:24 PM

    So Harry how many Irish men and women would have died if Ireland had joined the war?It was probably the only decent thing the old weasel did.

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    Mute Harry Foley
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    Oct 31st 2015, 5:03 PM

    Well how many Irishmen died in the 14/18 war and not forgetting the civil war which he is responsible for

    7
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    Mute Timmy Og Daly
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    Oct 31st 2015, 9:58 AM

    Was outside there forthe first time last weekend and was devestated they didnt take us inside, have to go another time!

    20
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Oct 31st 2015, 10:45 AM

    Do it is mind blowing! And you’ll go back!

    23
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    Mute Sean @114
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    Oct 31st 2015, 5:53 PM

    My Grandad fought in the GPO and was interned at Frongoch in Wales following the rising. His recollection was that the rebels were verbally abused, by some, as they began to rally in the city on the Monday. He also recalled abuse and spit being hurled at those captured, including himself, as they were marched down the quays to boats bound for the UK. So certainly some truth in it. A lot of businesses in Dublin city were of course owned by wealthy pro union protestants who would have had no love of the rebel rabble. Regarding the media, one of the big two notoriously called for the rising leaders to be ‘dealt with’ in their editorial and in the aftermath of the rising. They changed their views following the execution of Connolly, then calling for clemency. The grandad would never allow that paper, or anyone holding a copy of it, into his house again. Kilmainham Gaol is a national treasure. Living history.

    17
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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Oct 31st 2015, 10:45 AM

    I think there is some truth in the fact that the rising was not totally supported initially ‘most people were unaware it was planned and were surprised when it happened

    14
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    Mute Muiris O'Daltuin
    Favourite Muiris O'Daltuin
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    Oct 31st 2015, 2:16 PM

    Some really poor attempts at trolling there Mr. Mac Donagh. Surely you can do better than that.

    11
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    Mute Enda Elvery
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    Oct 31st 2015, 12:24 PM

    Well Thomas mc donagh they rotted there before.

    7
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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Oct 31st 2015, 11:22 AM

    It should be reopened as a prison.

    6
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    Mute EDDIE BARRETT
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    Oct 31st 2015, 11:35 AM

    I would love a Wing to be opened there for Corrupt Bankers and Corrupt Rightwing Politicians too – We could all go in and view them at first hand – Mr. Lyons ???

    28
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    Mute Thomas Mac Donagh
    Favourite Thomas Mac Donagh
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    Oct 31st 2015, 12:02 PM

    Good place to let SF/IRA terrorists rot :)

    12
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