Spike Island, County Cork

Spike Island, also known in Irish as Inis Píc, is a 103-acre island located in Cork Harbour, Ireland. It has a rich history that began with a monastic settlement and later became home to an impressive 18th-century bastion fort called Fort Mitchel. Because of its important position in the harbour, the island was used for both defence and as a prison at different times in history.

In recent years, Spike Island has become a popular tourist spot. Millions of euros have been invested to create exhibitions and visitor spaces, making it an exciting place to explore. In 2019, over 81,000 people visited the island, showing its growing popularity. It was even named the top European tourist attraction at the 2017 World Travel Awards, highlighting its importance and appeal to visitors from around the world.

History

Spike Island has a long and interesting history. Evidence suggests that a monastery was founded there by Saint Mochuda in the 7th century. Over the years, the island changed ownership many times.

In the late 1700s, a fort was built on the island because of its important location at the entrance to Cork Harbour. This fort was later expanded into a large fortress. During the 1800s, the island was used as a prison, holding many convicts before they were sent away. It was known as one of the toughest prisons in the British Empire at the time.

Even after Ireland became independent, the island stayed under British control until 1938, when it was handed over to Ireland. The fort was renamed Fort Mitchel. The island continued to be used by the Irish military and as a prison until 2004. Today, the island is no longer home to a civilian population but remains an important part of Ireland’s history.

Demographics

Tourism development

In May 2006, the Minister for Justice announced plans to build a new prison on Spike Island. But in January 2007, they decided to look for another location and instead focus on making Spike Island a historical tourist site. In 2009, the island was given to Cork County Council to help develop it as a place for visitors to enjoy.

Since 2015, during the summer, tours have left from Cobh. These tours show people the old fort, prison cells, and other important spots. After more money was added in 2016, new attractions opened, including a punishment block, cells from the 1980s, and a model of an old ship. In 2017, Spike Island was named "Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction" at the World Travel Awards.