Living in Kilmainham, Dublin
Room to rent from private landlords Living in Kilmainham, Dublin - no agency fees - Dublin
History and culture west of the centre: the Gaol, IMMA and the gardens.
Kilmainham is a neighbourhood west of the centre rich in history and culture: here you find Kilmainham Gaol, the prison-museum tied to the Irish struggle for independence, and IMMA, the museum of modern art housed in the monumental Royal Hospital Kilmainham, with its gardens. Alongside the museums, a quiet residential fabric and the memorial gardens on the river, a few minutes from Heuston station.
Who lives here
A mix lives here: families and long-tenured residents in the neighbourhood houses, plus those who arrived looking for a quiet, green and culture-rich area near the centre. It is a residential and settled population, tied to the historic and museum character of the area.
What it's like during the day
By day Kilmainham lives on culture and residential quiet: the visitors to the Gaol and IMMA, the walks in the gardens of the Royal Hospital and the War Memorial Gardens on the river, the calm rhythm of the residential streets. It is one of the greenest and most history-rich areas near the centre.
What it's like in the evening
In the evening it is quiet and residential. It is not a nightlife area: you dine, you stroll, you enjoy the calm. For venues and nightlife you move towards the centre, which is close. It is a neighbourhood to come home to, valued for its tranquillity and culture.
Getting around
The area is well connected: the Luas Red line stops nearby (towards Suir Road and Drimnagh) and goes into the centre, and the large Heuston railway station, a few minutes away, serves trains to the rest of the country. Numerous bus routes complete the connections. The centre is also reachable by bike along the river.
Eating and shopping
The internal offering is that of a residential neighbourhood: cafés, a few restaurants, the venues tied to the museums, plus supermarkets and everyday shops. For variety the centre is a few minutes away. It is an area where people live culture and tranquillity more than shopping.
When NOT to pick it
If you are looking for nightlife, a buzz and a young, noisy neighbourhood, Kilmainham is too quiet: it is residential, green and cultural, made for calm. It is west of the centre, not in the middle of the nightlife. It makes sense for those seeking history, greenery and quiet near the centre; less so for those who want energy and venues on their doorstep.