Spike Island, or "Ireland’s Alcatraz", is a small coastal enclave off the coast of Cobh in Co Cork. But while most of us associate its colourful history as one of a battle-hardened prison, its story begins much earlier, centuries earlier in fact. Spike Island’s rich history extends as far back as 635 AD when Saint Mochuda set up a monastery on the island, which lasted for 500 years. Spike Island is still Britain and Ireland’s largest-ever prison and was used as a prison facility up until 2004. Today on the Indo Daily Ellen Coyne is joined by John Crotty, former general Manager of Spike Island and author of Spike Island: The Rebels,Residents and Crafty Criminals of Ireland’s Historic Island, to discuss the island’s colourful past and the potential histories yet to be unfurled.

Source: Irish Independent December 25, 2025 23:13 UTC