Home ⋅ Coming Soon ⋅ TALES FROM THE JAILS: A History of Irish Prisons

TALES FROM THE JAILS: A History of Irish Prisons
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By: Frank Hopkins
Publisher: New Island Books
Published: September 2026
Pages: 304
Categories: Non-Fiction, Humanities, History
Language: English
On sale at:
ISBN-13: 9781835940396

From 1750 to 1922, thousands of lives were shaped - and often shattered - by a system of punishment that stretched from the dank cells of Newgate and Kilmainham to the windswept outpost of Spike Island and the small local bridewells of rural towns. Through the experiences of individual prisoners, Frank Hopkins reveals the harsh realities of incarceration, transportation to far-off colonies, and the finality of the hangman’s noose. Along the way, it traces the wider history of Ireland’s prisons, from notorious institutions like Mountjoy and Wicklow Gaol to forgotten lock-ups such as Tarbert in Co. Kerry. Blending gripping personal stories with rich historical detail, Tales from the Jails opens a window onto Ireland’s carceral past, showing how the struggle for survival and justice played out within the prison walls long before independence was won.

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