Spike Island / Inis Píc

Ireland / Cork / Cobh /
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Spike Island is an island in Cork Harbour. The island has a rich military history, with a significant fort constructed in the 18th Century. Fort Westmoreland (renamed to Fort Mitchell in 1939) was used to house prisoners up until 2004.

Spike Island was one of the controversial Treaty Ports from 1922 to 1938 causing considerable diplomatic friction between Ireland and Britain.

www.passagewestmonkstown.ie/spike-island.asp
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Island,_County_Cork
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   51°50'3"N   8°17'8"W

Comments

  • This is or was the site of a state prison....
  • Spike Island, County Cork, Ireland, is a small island in the approaches to Cork. It was significant in the French intervention following the Glorious Revolution. In recent times it has been the site of a correctional facility for youth; it became mildly notorious when the inmates mutinied in 1986 and briefly controlled the area. IRA prisoners were held there during the era when the whole of Ireland formed part of the United Kingdom. Richard Barrett was among those detained there. He escaped from it during the truce of 1921. In May 2006 Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has announced plans to build a new prison on the island, however on 25th January 2007, he decided to explore an alternative site near an army base.
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This article was last modified 17 years ago