Jail Gate

Formally Clonmel had the following jails:

O Connel Street

Gladstone Street

Pauls Chruch

Emmet Street

The jail in Gladstone Street was built in the late 1770s and had 6 dungeons. Fr Nicholas Sheehy was imprisoned there while awaiting trail in 1766. After his execution his head was displayed n the gates of the jail as a warning to others. The jail in Emmet Street was built at the end of the 18th century. It comprised 42 large single cels, 198 smaller cells, 12 solitary cells, 13 day room, 16 work roms and 24 yards. the prison had an average of 340 prisoners at any time. Prisoners sentenced to death were hanged in front of the jail in the yard or at Gallows Hill to the north of the town. Just outside the prison gates there was a pillory, a frame with holes for the unfortunate wrongdoer's head and hands. Thoseconvicted of inor offences were locked into the pillory, where they were pelted with missiles by the townspeople. The new jail in Emmet Street was later used as the only Borstal Institution in Ireland.

© 2004 Places to see in Clonmel.
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