If you’re heading to Cobh this year, don’t leave without visiting Spike Island – Ireland’s answer to Alcatraz!
Just off the coast of this colourful harbour town lies a 103-acre island with a dark and interesting past.
It began as a monastic settlement. Then came the British, who built a vast star-shaped fortress. Later, it became a prison that held thousands and it was this period that earned the island the nickname ‘Ireland’s Alcatraz’.
Visiting Spike Island in Cork
So, a visit to Spike Island prison is fairly straightforward – you need to grab a ticket and hop onto a little ferry that leaves from Cobh.
1. Location
A short ferry ride from the gorgeous little fishing village of Cobh in County Cork lies a 103-acre island that has been used as a place of worship, defence, confinement and punishment.
2. Getting there
To get to Spike Island in Cork you’ll need to get a ferry from Kennedy Pier in Cobh. The ferry takes around 15 minutes each way and leaves several times each day.
3. How long the Spike Island tours take
A visit to Spike Island lasts 3.5 hours in total, including the ferry ride. You’ll start with a 15-minute boat trip from Cobh, then join a 40-minute guided tour before exploring the island on your own.
4. Book ahead of time
A visit here is one of the most popular things to do in Cobh so it books out often. Make sure to book your ticket well in advance!
About Spike Island prison
A short ferry ride from the gorgeous little fishing village of Cobh in County Cork lies a 103-acre island that has been used as a place of worship, defence, confinement and punishment.
Spike Island prison was originally the site of a monastic settlement, but for over 200 years it has been dominated by the star fort named ‘Fort Mitchel’.
In the last 1300 years, Spike Island has been host to a 6th-century Monastery, a 24-acre fortress, the largest convict depot in the world in Victorian times and centuries of island dwellings.
The island’s vast and varied history has included monks and monasteries, rioters and redcoats, captains and convicts and sinners and saints.
At one point, the island was used to house convicts prior to penal transportation, and this is where the nickname of ‘Ireland’s Alcatraz’ came from.
Spike Island history: The story behind Ireland’s Alcatraz
Via Spike Island on Facebook
One of the reason the Spike Island tours are so popular is thanks to Spike Island’s history… it’s very dark history.
According to reports, when Spike Island prison was the world’s largest prison in the 1850s, the treatment of convicts was nothing short of horrific.
The ‘Punishment Block’
A ‘Punishment Block’ was the only purpose-built cell block in the Fort, and it was built in response to the murder of Warder William Reddy in 1856.
It was made up of 28 solitary confinement cells and housed the most dangerous prisoners on the island.
Each prisoner was heavily chained and clothed in black from head to toe, with a veil hiding all but their eyes. In the blocks early years, the cells were furnished with only a stool, and prisoners slept on the floor.
Mass graves
There were several suicide attempts and the Punishment Block was the main reason that Spike Island was described as “Hell on earth” by many.
Mass graves, which litter the island, are the result of foul conditions and overcrowding during the worst of Ireland’s famine years.
Spike Island tours
Photos courtesy Spike Island Management via Tourism Ireland
There are 2 different Spike Island tours that you can head off on: the Regular Tour and the After Dark Tour.
The Regular Tour should suit those of you that are on a day-trip to Cobh while the After Dark Tour is a different kettle of fish altogether.
The Regular Tour
The first of the 2 Spike Island tours is the Regular Tour. Included in your ticket is a guided tour from where the ferry lets you off to the Fortress.
The guided tour lasts around 45 minutes and during this time a skilled storyteller will take you on a journey through Spike Islands history.
When the tour ends, you can explore the forts and the prison on your own.
The After Dark Tour
Those that embark upon the after-dark tour on Spike Island will be told the stories of several murders that took place on the island.
One of these murders was of nationalist Patrick White, who was killed during a spiteful act of revenge.
Another story tells of the brutal murder of a prison warder in the 1800s. This horrific killing was carried out by some of the many dangerous inhabitants that were imprisoned on Spike.
The tour also takes visitors along the mysterious underground tunnels and cells that are inaccessible during the day time tours.
Things to do after visiting Spike Island
If you’re visiting Cobh, it’s well worth following an itinerary like the one I’ve outlined above.
Here’s an overview for you:
- Morning: Visit St. Coleman’s Catheral, the Deck of Cards and Titanic Experience Cobh
- Mid-day: Take the ferry to Spike
- Late afternoon: Visit the Heritage Centre then grab food in one of the restaurants in Cobh
- Make a weekend of it: Stay in one of the Cobh hotels, visit Cork City, Kinsale and tackle the many things to do in Cork
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.
Myles Fitzmaurice
Friday 17th of June 2022
Looking forward to visiting Spike Island in early July, what is the best time to visit.
Vim
Sunday 8th of March 2020
Interesting, this dark part in the history of Ireland. No one has ever mentioned this before. Sort of scared the day lights out of me. But would certainly like to visit it the next time around when I get to Ireland.