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Cork City Gaol ≈ History  
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Background History;  
Gaol Guard
Brief History of Cork City Gaol: (Opened 1824, Closed 1923)
The Cork City Gaol in Sunday's Well, was designed to
replace the old Gaol at the Northgate Bridge in the heart
of the city. The old gaol was nearly 100 yrs. old, on a
confined site, overcrowded & unhygienic.
In 1806 an Act of Parliament was passed and monies
levied locally to allow the building of a new City Gaol.
The first site chosen was at Distillery Fields - an area
prone to frequent flooding!! This fact, and enlightened
thinking that hilly, airy sites were best for containing gaol
fever probably influenced the change to the present site.
 
In 1816 red sandstone was quarried from the hill, approach roads constructed, and outside security walls
built. By 1818 planning of the interior building could commence and Mrs. Deane, and her son, Thomas, won
the building contract. John Hogan, later to become Ireland's greatest neo-classical sculptor, developed
sketch drawings from the plans of architect, William Robertson of Kilkenny
The new Cork City Gaol opened in 1824 & was reported as being "the finest in 3 Kingdoms".
In 1870 the west wing was remodelled into a double-sided cell wing & in 1878 under the General Prisons
(Ireland) Act, the Gaol became an all-female prison which it remained until male anti-treaty supporters
were incarcerated in 1922/1923.
The Gaol closed in August 1923, with all remaining prisoners either
released or transferred to other gaols.

6CK Broadcasting;
The top floor of the Governor's House was used as a radio
broadcasting station by the national radio station - Radio Eireann
(now RTE) from 1927 until the 1950's.
From 1923 to 1993, apart from the foregoing, and some storage use
of the exterior grounds by the Dept. Posts & Telegraphs, the Gaol
complex was allowed to become totally derelict until its innovative
restoration and reopening to the Public as a visitor attraction in 1993.

West Wing
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CORK CITY GAOL Convent Avenue, Sunday's Well, Cork City, Ireland.
Tel: 00353-21-4305022   Fax:00353-21-4307230     Email; corkgaol@indigo.ie