History
Explore the History of Spike Island
In the last 1300 years Spike Island has been host to a 7th century Monastery, a 24 acre Fortress, the largest convict depot in the world in Victorian times and centuries of island homes. The island's rich history has included monks and monasteries, rioters and redcoats, captains and convicts and sinners and saints.
Today the island is dominated by the 200 year old Fort Mitchel, the star shaped Fortress which became a prison holding over 2300 prisoners. It was the largest prison in the world at the time and there has never been a larger prison in Ireland or Britain before or since. Discover more about our rich history and colourful characters here.
Saint Mochuda founded the Spike Island monastery in 635ad, one that likely survived for many centuries.
"After they had laid low their armies, in Spike Island they imprisoned thousands, without food or drink or beds". The coming of Cromwell and a first prison.
The first of three fortifications built to defend an Empire arrived in 1779, as 206 years of military occupation began. Well over a billion would be expended before it was complete.
The second prison was the largest prison in the world in the 1850's, and remains the largest ever in Britain and Ireland.
After 700 years of British occupation and many failed uprisings, Ireland began its successful path to freedom in 1912.
Ireland secured freedom from Britain in 1921 with the signing of a truce after a hard fought and bitter War of Independence.
The former residents of Spike Island recall their island home with fondness
The peace of Cork harbour was shattered when a violent riot broke out in the prison on a hot August night in 1985
Called the 'young offenders' prison, it would eventually hold more serious criminals like Dubliner Martin Cahill.
