In Reply to: Where was the old prison in Castlebar ? posted by Chisler on April 27, 2005 at 13:34:08:

The building commenced in 1830 & the contractor was a Dennis Clarke who was also contractor for the building of the Military Barracks, which was by then near completion.During one year (1859) the number of children incarcerated was fifty-nine,four being under eleven and some were put in for offences such as stealing fruit.It wasn't until 1896 that the children were kept seperate from adult prisoners and to teach them trades.
There were only three executions at Castlebar Gaol and a black flag was hoisted over the Gaol to signify that justice had been served.
After the 1916 Rising,the Gaol became the County Headquarters for the Black and Tans and after they were recalled the I.R.A. tried to burn it down,but only succeeded in destroying the central building.In 1932 the Mayo County Board of Health acquired for a site for a county hospital.Up to 65 men were employed in the demolition work.Two bodies were found on the site,almost certainly two of the three executed men, and were re-interred in the local cemetery.
Most of the stone work was sold off and probably some of it was dumped in various places around the Town.