Can you tell me about visiting a person in prison?

The following information has been updated  Dec 2011. 

1) Limerick Prison:

Visits Booking Tel No. 061 204787

Visiting Times:
Normal visiting times are Monday to Saturday from 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm except for Tuesday when no visits occur and Thursday when afternoon visiting times are 2.30pm - 4pm. Remand prisoners are entitled to one 15 minute visit per day. Sentenced offenders may avail of two 30 minute visits per week. Additional special visits may also be available on request.

Visitors are advised that they will be subject to a range of security measures, including searching prior to entering the prison. Up to three adults may visit with a prisoner at the same time (there is no limit on the number of small children) and staff will explain the visiting procedures. Mobile phones are not allowed in the prison and there is a no smoking policy in operation during the visit.

2) Loughan House:

Booking line: 071 9836000

Visiting Times:
Normal visiting times are daily from 10am to 5pm. Visiting facilities are family friendly. Staff will explain the visiting procedures. Mobile phones are not allowed in the prison and there is a no smoking policy in operation during the visit.

3) Arbour Hill:

Tel: 01 6732931

Visiting Times:
Normal visiting times are Monday to Saturday from 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm. Sentenced offenders are entitled to one 30 minute visit per week. Additional special visits may also be available on request.

Each prisoner must nominate six adults who will visit him (there is no limit on the number of children) and those visitors must produce photographic identification on arrival at the prison. Staff will explain the visiting procedures. Mobile phones are not allowed in the prison and there is a no smoking policy in operation during the visit.

4) Castlerea Prison:

Booking telephone line: 094 9621228 during visiting times

or email to book a visit at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Visiting Times:
Normal visiting times are Monday to Saturday from 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4 pm. Sentenced offenders are entitled to one 30 minute visit per week. Special visits of 15 minutes duration may also be available on request.
Each prisoner must nominate six adults who will visit him (there is no limit on the number of children) and those visitors must produce photographic identification on arrival at the prison. Staff will explain the visiting procedures. There is a no smoking policy in operation during the visit.

Visits to 'The Grove' area are allowed on a daily basis from 10am to 6pm, including Sunday.

5) Cloverhill Prison:

Visits booking line (01) 6304880

Visiting:
Normal visiting times are Monday to Saturday from 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm, with the exception of Tuesday (There are no ordinary visits on Tuesday. There are only legal visits in the afternoon and evening).

Remand and sentenced prisoners are entitled to four 30 minute visit per week whilst they are in Cloverhill. A prisoner may apply in advance for extra time on a visit, which may be granted at the discretion of the Governor. However extra time is generally not granted in respect of Saturday visits. Special visits are only available at the discretion of the Governor.

Walk in visits are permitted within the first four days of a person being remanded, after the four days have passed you must book on the booking line above.

Visits by appointment are in operation in Cloverhill Prison. Prisoners may nominate up to eight visitors on their visitors panel each month. Property (clothes etc) will not be accepted during Saturday visits.

6) Cork Prison:

Booking a visit call - 021 4518889 – book during visiting hours

Visiting Times:

Normal Visiting times are Monday to Saturday from 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm except. Remand prisoners are allowed 3 thirty minute visits per week. Sentenced prisoners are allowed one thirty minute visit per week and may on application have one further thirty minute visit. All visits must be booked in advance .To book a visit please contact Visitors Reception at 021 4518889.

Each prisoner must nominate six adults to visit him (there is no limit on the number of children). All visitors must produce photographic identification on arrival at the prison. Staff will explain the visiting procedures. Please note that Mobile phones are not allowed in the prison and also there is a no smoking policy in operation during visits. All persons entering the Prison are subject to security screening.

7) Dochas Prison:

Booking a visit call – (01) 8858954 (or) (01) 8858955

Visiting Times:
Normal visiting times are Monday to Saturday (except Wednesday) from 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm for remand prisoners, who are entitled to one 15 minute visit per day. Sentenced offenders are entitled to one 30 minute visit per week on Saturday and Sunday. Special visits of 15 minutes duration may also be available on request.

Each prisoner must nominate six adults who will visit her (there is no limit on the number of children) and those visitors must produce photographic identification on arrival at the prison. Staff will explain the visiting procedures. There is a no smoking policy in operation during the visit.

8) Midlands prison: 05786 72155 / 05786 72110 / 72100

Visiting Times:
Normal visiting times are Monday to Saturday from 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm. Sentenced offenders are entitled to one 30 minute visit per week. Special visits of 15 minutes duration may also be available on request. Visits must be booked a minimum of 24 hours in advance.

Each prisoner must nominate six adults who will visit him (there is no limit on the number of children) and those visitors must produce photographic identification on arrival at the prison. Staff will explain the visiting procedures. There is a no smoking policy in operation during the visit.

9) Mount joy prison: Tel: 01 8062800

Booking Line: 01 8858955

Visiting Times:
Normal visiting times are Monday to Saturday from 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm. No visiting Sundays. Sentenced offenders are entitled to one 30 minute visit per week. Special visits of 15 minutes duration may also be available on request to the Governor.
Each prisoner can nominate a maximum of three adults and 4-5 children to visit and those visitors must produce photographic identification on arrival at the prison. Staff will explain the visiting procedures. There is a no smoking policy in operation during the visit. Visitors will have to undergo a search by sniffer dog and metal detector. Mobile phones, sim cards, chargers or any components of mobile phones are strictly forbidden. There is a safety deposit box where visitors can leave any such belongings for the duration of visit.

10) PortLaoise prison: Tel: 05786 21318

Booking Line: 057 8681326

Visiting Times:
Normal visiting times are Monday to Saturday from 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm. Sentenced offenders are entitled to one 30 minute visit per week. Special visits of 15 minutes duration may also be available on request to the Governor. Visits must be booked at least 24hrs in advance.

Prisoners may nominate up to six visitors on their visitors panel each month. Visitors, once nominated, may either book a visit by ringing the dedicated booked visits phone at 057 86 813 26 or book a visit using the phone in the visitors waiting room. Visits will not be accepted by ringing any other number of the prison. All nominated visitors must present valid photographic ID on each and every visit to the Prison i.e Passport, Driving Licence or Garda ID Card.

The booking line is open during visiting times i.e. Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm & 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm (Thursdays 2.30pm to 4.00 pm) and 5.30 to 7pm. Visitors should arrive 15 minutes prior to the booked visit. The maximum number of adults permitted on a visit is three and the maximum number of children permitted on a visit is three. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

All visitors and staff are processed through our security screen area. Visitors are advised that they will be subject to a range of security measures, including searching prior to entering the prison. Passive dogs are in operation in Portlaoise Prison. Visitors are advised that mobile phones or any personal items, e.g., handbags, watches, are not permitted into Portlaoise Prison & must be left in the lockers in the visitor’s waiting room. There is a no smoking policy in operation during the visit. Free car parking is available in the visitor’s car park. There are no visits on Sundays or Christmas Day.

11)Shelton Abbey Prison: Tel: 0402 42300

Booking Line: No Booking line

Visiting Times:
Visiting times are 11am to 3.00pm Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. Visits are booked by prisoners only and photographic identification will need to be produced before entry. Numbers are restricted to 3 adults and approx. 2-3 children per visit. Visits are conducted in an open, family friendly environment and staff will explain the visiting and security procedures. Mobile phones are not allowed in the prison and there is a no smoking policy in operation during the visit.

12) St. Patricks Institution: Tel: 01 8062896

Booking Line: 8858994

Visiting Times:
Normal visiting times are Monday to Saturday from 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm. There are no visits on a Tuesday or Thursday, as these days are reserved for Special Family Visits which have to be applied for by the inmate to the Governor. Factors such as the length of time served and good behaviour etc., will be taken into account when deciding whether to grant a special visit. These visits are held in a more family friendly environment. Remand prisoners are entitled to one 15 minute visit per day. Sentenced offenders are entitled to one 30 minute visit per week. Special visits of 15 minutes duration may also be available on request from the Governor.
Each prisoner must nominate six adults who will visit him (there is no limit on the number of children) and those visitors must produce photographic identification on arrival at the prison. Visitors must leave their belongings in lockers provided. There will be sniffer dogs in operation. Staff will explain the visiting procedures. There is a no smoking policy in operation during the visit.

13) Training Unit; Tel: 01 8062890

Booking Line: 01 8858982

Visiting Times:
Normal visiting times are Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 6.30pm. Sentenced offenders are entitled to one 30 minute visit each week. Special visits of 30 minutes duration may also be available on Wednesday between 2pm and 4pm on request to the Governor. All visits must be booked in advance by calling booking line.

Prisoners may have 3 adults and 3 children per visit and those visitors must produce photographic identification on arrival at the prison. Staff will explain the visiting procedures. Mobile phones are not allowed in the prison and there is a no smoking policy in operation during the visit. Sniffer dogs are usually in operation.

14) Wheatfield Prison; Tel: 01 6209400

Booking Line: 01 6209401

Visiting times:
Visits by appointment are in operation in Wheatfield Prison. Visits may be booked up to 2 weeks in advance and at least 24 hours beforehand. Prisoners may nominate up to eight visitors on their visitors panel at the end of each month. Visitors, once nominated, may either book a visit by ringing the dedicated booking line or book a visit in person in the visitors waiting room. The maximum number of adults permitted on a visit is three and the maximum number of children permitted on a visit is three. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Visitors must arrive 15 minutes prior to visiting time.All nominated visitors must present valid (in date) photographic ID on each and every visit to the Prison i.e. Passport, Driving Licence or Garda ID Card. The booking line is open from 9:00am to 12:30pm & 2:00pm to 4:30pm (Thursday 2:30pm to 4:30pm) Monday to Saturday. There are no visits allowed on a Sunday.

Legal visitors must book by fax on company headed paper, stating the name of the prisoner, PRIS No. /DOB if available, name & profession of visitors, date & time slot. Only legal visits will be booked through this dedicated fax line.

Prisoners have a privilege of one 30 minute visit per week and may apply for a second special visit. There are no visits on Sundays or Christmas Day. Passive dogs are in operation in Wheatfield Prison.

All visitors and staff are processed through our security screen area. Visitors are advised that mobile phones or any personal items are not permitted into Wheatfield Prison & must be left in the visitor’s waiting room. Wheatfield Prison operates a non smoking policy. All visitors or to Wheatfield Prison are subject to the Provisions of the 2007 Prisons Act.