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This museum is housed in the old Down County Gaol in Downpatrick next door to the Down Cathedral. Built between 1789 and 1796, the prison was famous for the hanging of Irish dissidents during the Rising of the United Irishmen in 1798, as well as being a holding center for deportees awaiting passage to Australia. Visit the cells where life-size figures from the prison's past await their fate. The museum tells the story of this area - its history and peoples. Down County is where Saint Patrick first landed to establish his Irish ministry, and the gate house of the museum houses the Saint Patrick Heritage Center. In the Governor's Residence displays on various aspects of the county's history change seasonally. A gift shop and cafe complete your visit.
