Next Tuesday (27th February), the community is invited to attend a special mass to commemorate the thousands of inmates imprisoned in Wicklow Gaol.
Many of the inmates incarcerated over the two centuries that the prison was open would never have had a dignity of a proper funeral.
Men, women and children endured horrific overcrowding and punishment measures in the then British-owned prison. Often their crimes were as petty as stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread.
Condemned prisoners were hanged, others suffered a torturous 6-month journey to Van Diemens Land, many dying during the harrowing voyage.
2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the re-opening of Wicklow Gaol as an historic attraction and inviting the community to remember the many forgotten souls of the inmates is a priority for staff and management.
The mass will be celebrated by Fr. Donal Roche in the main Gaol building on Kilmantin Hill on Tuesday 27th February at 7pm. Everyone is warmly welcome. For further information: info@wicklowshistoricgaol.
