ORIGINAL STONE BLOCK FROM KILKENNY JAIL
Kilkenny Jail, historically spelled as both "Jail" and "Gaol," was a significant institution in the city's history. The original jail was located under the courthouse on what is now Parliament Street. Due to overcrowding and a desire to move the jail away from the city centre, a new jail was constructed in 1801 on Gaol Road, close to the modern fire station. This new jail had a radial design, common in 19th-century jail architecture, and included multiple wings, cells, and day rooms.
The jail was the site of a famous escape in 1921 during the Irish War of Independence, when a group of political prisoners successfully broke out. However, the jail was closed in 1929 and eventually demolished in 1948. Much of the stone from the jail was repurposed in the construction of a stand at Nowlan Park, a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) stadium in Kilkenny.
The spelling of "Jail" versus "Gaol" is a matter of historical usage and regional preference. Both spellings were common in Ireland and the UK, with "Gaol" being more prevalent in older documents and official usage. Today, "Jail" is the more commonly accepted spelling.
The jail was the site of a famous escape in 1921 during the Irish War of Independence, when a group of political prisoners successfully broke out. However, the jail was closed in 1929 and eventually demolished in 1948. Much of the stone from the jail was repurposed in the construction of a stand at Nowlan Park, a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) stadium in Kilkenny.
The spelling of "Jail" versus "Gaol" is a matter of historical usage and regional preference. Both spellings were common in Ireland and the UK, with "Gaol" being more prevalent in older documents and official usage. Today, "Jail" is the more commonly accepted spelling.
ORIGINAL STONE BLOCK FROM KILKENNY JAIL