Laois councillors propose turning Portlaoise Prison IRA wing into tourist attraction

A PORTLAOISE councillor has seized upon a potential opportunity that could bring more tourists into the town.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan pitched his idea at the September meeting of councillors to repurpose and open the E Wing of Portlaoise Prison as a tourist attraction.

In his notice of motion at the meeting, cllr Mulligan proposed: “That Laois County Council engage with Jim O Callaghan TD, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to explore the potential of repurposing the E Wing in Portlaoise Prison into a tourist/cultural attraction in the near future.” 

His proposal was seconded by cllr Aisling Moran.

 Cllr Mulligan said that the Irish Prison Service has recently carried out a recent feasibility study on E Wing of Portlaoise Prison which now holds just five prisoners.

The study said cllr Mulligan was to “to determine whether the wing could be upgraded to a facility with in-cell sanitation and correctly sized cells. It appears this is too costly an operation. The word is, and it’s not official,” said cllr Mulligan, “but it appears that it is highly likely, that it could be too expensive, that E Wing could be left derelict/vacant or could be knocked/demolished. The five inmates there now are not going to be replaced.” 

He said that the county could “not miss an opportunity of possibly establishing a tourist centre or museum in that prison wing.” 

He said the prison has a huge amount of history attached to it going back almost 200-years and went on to outline some of the events that had occurred in it.

Cllr Mulligan said that the prison was built in the 1830s and named Maryborough Gaol. During the War of Independence between 1919 and 1921 it served as a detention for Irish Republican prisoners, which included many well-known and renowned local republicans such as Pádraic/Paddy Fleming in 1918 who is related to current county councillor and his brother TD, Pádraig and Sean Fleming.

In November 1921 hundreds of prisoners were transferred from Spike Island to Maryborough Gaol, a move that was orchestrated amidst tense conditions in prison camps. December the same year 100s of prisoners were released from the gaol following the Anglo-Irish Treaty. From 1922-1923 it was used for an internment prison during the Civil War conflict In August1922-Civil War-Free Staters discovered a tunnel dug by Republican prisoners attempting an escape. The discovery led to a riot and attempts to set fire to the gaol, during which a prisoner named PJ Hickey was grievously wounded and died the following day-in his early 20s and five prisoners were wounded.

In 1929 the prison was renamed Portlaoise Prison.

Continuing speaking about events that took place in the prison cllr Mulligan said that in 1946 Sean McCaughey went on hunger strike in a bid to seek political status and prison conditions and died 23 days into the strike.

He said that after the helicopter escape in Mountjoy Jail in 1973 all republican prisoners were transferred to Portlaoise Prison which then became a high security prison. The following year prisoners took 26 prison officers’ hostage for several hours in protest for better living conditions In July 1974 an 80ft long tunnel to the prison was discovered by the gardaí. Two months later there was a mass break-out from the prison which was immortalised in the song –‘19 men’.

In 1975 14 prisoners went on hunger strike, while in the same year another hostage situation arose as prisoners took several prison officers hostage.

Twenty prisoners went on hunger strike in 1977 that lasted 47 days.

On 17 March 1978 while prisoners were trying to escape Tom Smith was shot dead.

Cllr Mulligan said that the only prisoner officer in the republic to have been murdered during the troubles, Brian Stack, was shot on 25 March 1983 and died 18 months later 29 September 1984 from the wounds.

There was another failed mass prison escape in 1985.

Cllr Mulligan said that Irish army personal have spent almost 50 years on armed protection duties, and a permanent presence from 1973 to 2024.

He said that over the years exhibition had been held in the prison that featured artwork by prisoners, storytelling and journals relating to Portlaoise Prison and are held at existing museums like Kilmainham Gaol.

“Portlaoise Prison over the years has catered for school tours. It’s a big part of the history of the town and of the county. We should use this to our advantage if there was the potential to turn it into a tourist attraction,” said the councillor.

He said: “Sligo Jail has received funding for the jail to be repurposed as a tourist attraction. Jails do work as tourist attractions.

“It’s very likely that E Wing could be left vacant or demolished soon. Can we explore, if there are options around a visitors’ centre, a museum or prison tours in E Wing? I see this an as opportunity.” 

Cllr Moran said: “If you look at Kilmainham Jail, it had 260,000 visitors in 2023 and rising. It would be a fantastic way of bringing tourists into the county. It would be a revenue stream for the county.” 

Cllr John King said it would be useful for councillors to view E Wing, if it could be arranged, because if it’s going to cost so much to do it up, it might be useful knowing what’s involved.” 

Cllr Moran said that if the wing was to be used as a tourist attraction, “you wouldn’t need to do a huge amount to it.” 

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said she remembers protests that were held outside the prison over the years which were supported by local people from around the county, “some who are no longer with us today, some who have passed on.” 

She said: “It’s out of our hands. It will be very interesting to see what the Department comes back with to Tommy’s proposal. I heard recently Minister O’Callaghan talk about the need for extra prison spaces. That our prisons were over-crowded. I agree it would be a great opportunity if we’re successful.” 

Cllr Paddy Buggy said that he is the chairman for the vising committee at the Midlands Prison, “which was built for 840 inmates. On average there are 1,000 to 1,075 in there every month. There’s gross overcrowding in the prison service at the moment.” 

He said: “It’s a lovely idea to turn it into a mini Kilmainham Jail. But I don’t know if the Department would be in a position to give it over for that purpose. I think it will be more needed for space for inmates in the short-term at least. But let’s see what the Department has to say.” 

The meeting agreed to send of the motion to the Department of Justice and await its response to it.

E Wing, which was known as the IRA Landing, has a capacity of 75 prisoners and used to hold IRA prisoners and dissident paramilitaries from republican factions over the years. It is the only prison accommodation in the State where slopping out continues as there are no in-cell toilet facilities and as such prisoners must use containers that have to be emptied by hand when the cells open. 

The cells do not comply with up-to-date standards.