Today, Friday 1st August, Armagh Gaol will re-open its doors to the public as a pop-up tourist attraction, for a limited time only.
The Gaol is earmarked for a major redevelopment, including the construction of a hotel and accommodation. This is the once in a lifetime opportunity to see the Gaol in its original state before work commences.
Tours of the Gaol will take place throughout the day each Friday and Saturday from 10am. Guided tours of the Gaol are conducted by experienced tour guides and visitors will be informed about the Gaol’s history that includes women and children imprisonment and the executions that took place in the grounds.
Operators from Belfast’s popular Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction & Conference Centre will oversee Armagh Gaol as a Visitor Attraction. .Managing Director, Kieran Quinn commented, “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase Armagh Gaol to the public and are privileged to be able to offer a visitor experience for both locals and tourists to the area alike, he said “The wealth of history within the walls speaks for itself and we’d encourage the public come along and to see it one last time.”
Armagh Gaol is one of Northern Ireland’s most important landmark buildings. Steeped in history, for most of its working life Armagh Gaol was the primary women’s prison in Northern Ireland until its closure in 1986.
- Armagh Gaol is one of Northern Ireland’s most important landmark buildings. Steeped in history, for most of its working life Armagh Gaol was the primary women’s prison in Northern Ireland until its closure in 1986.
- The Gaol is Grade B+ listed and has been vacant for over 20 years. The construction of the prison began in the 1780’s and it was extended in the style of Pentonville Prison in the 1840 and 1850s. The Gaol was largely designed by two of Ireland’s most renowned architects, Francis Cooley and William Murray.
- Armagh Gaol consisted of three prisons – one for women, one for debtors and one for felons. Executions were common, taking place in the Gaol square, but were later moved behind the prison walls. The last man to be executed at Armagh gaol was Joseph Fee in 1904.
- In the latter half of the 20th century, the Gaol accommodated high-profile political prisoners. Although the prison is often described as Armagh women’s Gaol, at various points in its history, various wings in the prison were used to hold male prisoners. Due to the growing prison population during the Troubles, Armagh also housed male remand and sentenced prisoners.
To Book
Guided tours- run every Friday & Saturday between 10.30am and 4.30pm
Tickets can be pre-booked online at www.armaghgaol.com or by calling
028 90 357 527