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Built in 1796 and officially known as County of Dublin Gaol, Kilmainham Gaol takes its name from the town in which it is located. For the first 44 years of the jail's existence, there was no segregation of prisoners. Men, women and children were kept in the same cell, five in each, and only a solitary candle was made available for light and warmth. Each candle was to last a fortnight at a time. In 1840, a female section was eventually built—just before the Great Famine and an unprecedented surge in prisoner numbers. Around this time, the majority of adult prisoners were transported to Australia.

In terms of Irish history Kilmainham Gaol is most remembered for its connection with the Irish Civil War. It was used a detention centre by the British Army for their opposition prisoners of war. Martyrs of the Irish cause, such as Padraid Pierce and James Connolly, were executed here during the 1916 uprising.