The only constant in life is change, as the well-worn saying goes.
If you ever wanted proof of this philosophy, however, there’s arguably no better place to find it than at Spike Island.
Throughout its 1300 years’ worth of history, there have been countless changes to the iconic Cork visitor attraction.
Since first beginning life as a monastery back in the seventh century, Spike has taken on a huge number of different forms and functions; serving as a British military defence fort, a Famine era convict depot and — most notably — as one of the world’s largest prisons for a significant stretch of the Victorian era.
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There’s also the fact that the island managed to change hands in the 20th century, marking a hugely significant triumph for Irish Independence. In 1938, Spike Island was returned from British to Irish control without a single shot being fired, and despite fierce resistance from Winston Churchill, in what was hailed as a great act of diplomacy by then President Éamon de Valera.
It only makes sense, then, that an area that stood witness to so many tides of change throughout Irish history is continuing to change even today.
These days, Spike Island is one of the country’s leading visitor attractions — and it’s not hard to see why.
Every time you visit, it seems there’s something new to see or do, or something you’ve yet to explore. “There are so many different points of interest that make Spike Island a standout destination for tourists; whether that’s international tourists, staycationers, or even Cork people looking for a great day trip,” explains Michelle Russell, marketing manager at Spike Island.
“The island is 104 acres in total, so there’s lots to see and do and we pride ourselves on offering something for everybody. For the family market, it’s a great day out that kids of all ages really do love; from very small children right up to teenagers. We have a kids’ history trail which gets them involved with a really fun, interactive little quiz where they can explore a trail around the island with their map and answer the questions along the way, or there’s our children’s playground.
“For couples, it’s almost like a bucket list experience that they’re ticking off. The island offers great views of Cobh and wider Cork Harbour, which are quite romantic, as well as lovely, scenic walking trails across the island.
“The island itself is only accessible by ferry, meaning all visitors get a sense that they’re escaping and switching off from the ‘real world’ for a while. They also get a great chance to see Cork Harbour from a different angle during their journey across, which is always a nice part of the overall experience.
“Then on arrival, of course, visitors receive a world-class guided tour from one of our expert local guides, packed full of really authentic storytelling, where we really bring the island’s history to life. We appeal to a very wide audience, as there really is something for everybody. You don’t necessarily need to be a history buff to have a great day out here.”
This summer in particular, there are more ways than ever before to enjoy a day out at Spike Island — with plenty of new events and activities lined up.
“We’re very excited about our new exhibition coming up, which explores the origins of the British fortification, as well as looking at the lives of people who were stationed there for military purposes,” Michelle shares. “It’s a really interesting one, because we get quite a few visitors to Spike Island from the UK, and the island’s fort was originally built by the British, so there’s that strong link there.
“This summer we’re also really encouraging people to discover the tales of heroes and villains at this infamous prison island. Spike’s history is full of so many fascinating characters. Some of the standouts include Little Nellie, who visitors are always quite moved by. She was a little girl who lived on the island whilst her father was stationed here in the military and she unfortunately fell quite ill with TB. She was very religious, and so she asked for her Holy Communion before she passed away, although Holy Communion was only granted to older children at the time. The Pope granted her this special request himself, and so she’s the reason why nowadays children get Holy Communion at seven years old. You can actually visit her house here on the island, and it’s very impactful.
“There are so many other figures throughout Irish history; you have key figures in Irish Independence, and obviously the prisoners themselves. There’s a real fascination with them, with the lives they led both before and after incarceration. We’ve got the likes of Jack in the Box, a notoriously crafty criminal, who was a prisoner here. [Dublin crime lord] Martin Cahill also did a stint on the island.”
Each of these figures, and the very ground they once walked at Spike Island, offer fascinating stories. This summer, visitors can immerse themselves in those stories more deeply than ever before, thanks to the new Spike Island app.
“We definitely pride ourselves on our excellent guided tours and rich storytelling at Spike Island, and this app is an add-on to that,” explains Michelle. “The app was initially launched in 2022 but we’ve since revamped it a little bit and we’re delighted that from this summer onwards it will be totally free to all visitors. It offers a totally immersive experience, almost like a digital story trail, so there’s a number of spots around the island where you can scan with your phone and the app will bring the various stories to life. We’re using that technology to complement the guided tour visitors get at the start, so the app offers a really great experience that will accompany people around the island and just further tell our story.”
The app is far from the only way to experience a good story at Spike Island, though. This summer, in fact, some of the most exciting crime and crime fiction stories of recent years will be explored at Spike Island Literary Festival.
“We started the Literary Festival back in 2022, so we’re all geared up now going into its third year,” says Michelle. “There’s a great lineup this year that we’re really looking forward to, including Dr Marie Cassidy, who was the state pathologist for many years and will be discussing her new book, and Scottish crime and thriller writer Neil Lancaster. We also have beloved Irish writers Cónal Creedon and Jo Spain involved.
“The festival appeals to literary enthusiasts of all kinds; we’ve got your budding writers, but also book lovers, and people who just really enjoy a day out on the island! It gives people a chance to interact with the authors of their favourite books, so we’re really looking forward to that this year.”
The other big exciting fixture on Spike Island’s summer calendar is, of course, their annual Independence Day celebrations. The event marks the date that Spike Island was handed over from British to Irish ownership; and does so in spectacular fashion with “one of the country’s most photographed fireworks displays”, as Michelle puts it.
“We celebrate Independence Day every year with our very popular family fun day on the island and it really lights up the surrounding harbour and Cobh! Unfortunately, it’s now sold out, but what we do find is that it really draws people to Cobh, or to the likes of Crosshaven and Whitegate because people can still see the fireworks from there. It’s a lovely community event that really brings people together on all sides of the island.”
Whether you head to Spike Island for those fireworks on July 13th, or on any other day, sparks will definitely fly on your visit as you fall in love with this one-of-a-kind destination.
To find out more about Spike Island, or to book tickets for your trip, visit their official website.