Cork City Gaol & Radio Museum

Cork City, Ireland (Cork)

Cork City Gaol is a former prison, now a museum, located in Cork City, Ireland.

From 1927 the top floor of the Governors house was used as a radio broadcasting station by 6CK, the first official radio station in Cork, Ireland.

6CK was succeeded by a national radio station- Radio Éireann (now Raidió Teilifís Éireann) and broadcasting continued at the Gaol until the 1950s.

2 Special Visitor Attractions - same location!

Radio Museum
On the top floor, you can view a small collection of radios or pay a visit to the old Broadcasting Studio. Take a seat in the Marconi room and watch a short movie on his life and inventions. You can also see the microphone that President John F Kennedy used on his visit to Cork in 1963!

For the Radio Museum in the first floor (you might have to ask for lightning up and permission) there are explaining photos shown here.

At the same location and uniquely situated in the former Governor’s House, is the Radio Museum Experience incorporating the restored 6CK Radio Broadcasting Studio. In addition to an audio visual on Marconi – and particularly his Irish connections, there is a wonderful collection of artefacts, including the RTE Collection, providing a nostalgic trip back to the early days of radio.

Cork City Gaol
This Cork heritage centre is renowned for its wax figures. Step back in time to see what 19th / early 20th Century life was like in Cork - inside and outside the prison walls. Amazingly lifelike wax figures, furnished cells, sound effects and fascinating exhibitions.

One of the most memorable Cork tourist attractions Cork is a city with a very rich historical and archaeological heritage - much of it still in evidence today. Part of this heritage, Cork City Gaol is located 2k n/w from Patrick’s Street and while the magnificent castle-like building is now a major and unique visitor attraction, this Gaol once housed 19th century prisoners! Visitors get a fascinating insight into day-to-day prison life at a time when the high walls ensured no escape and denied law-abiding citizens the opportunity to see one of the finest examples of Ireland's architectural heritage.
Wax figure of Gaol Governor at his desk

Stepping inside visitors are taken back in time to the 19th century. Wandering through the wings of the Gaol, the atmosphere suggests you are accompanied by the shuffling feet of inmates, each representing their particular period in Irish history from pre-famine times to the foundation of the State. The cells are furnished with amazingly life-like wax figures; original graffiti on cell walls tell the innermost feelings of some inmates while a very spectacular audio visual tells the social history and contrasting lifestyles of 19th c.Cork and why some people turned to crime, and some ended up in Australia. This exhibition fascinates visitors of all ages and nationalities and the tour is available in up to 13 languages.

• Imprint
• Privacy
• Terms of Use
• Cookie Settings
• Copyright

• About Radiomuseum.org
• Contact
• Press
• Logos
• send2friend