John Crotty – Author

The boy they made a murderer – Edmond Power

The boy they made a murderer – Edmond Power
Spike Island went from sleepy military outpost to epic island prison in October 1847, while the Irish famine raged. An explosion in convictions led to more prisoners than the jail or transportation system could handle. … View Post

Spike Island Riot! The night Ireland’s Alcatraz burned

Spike Island Riot! The night Ireland’s Alcatraz burned
Spike Island opened as a prison for the fourth time in 400 years in 1985, following its use as a Republican prison in 1921, the largest prison in the world in the mid-1800’s and a… View Post

The history of Spike Island – RTE’s Tubridy show with Oliver Callan

The history of Spike Island – RTE’s Tubridy show with Oliver Callan
Spike Island becomes a much discussed destination in the Irish summertime, as locals and visitors look for memorable things to do. I was fortunate to discuss Spike Island history with the always hilarious Oliver Callan,… View Post

Talking Spike Island and tourism marketing with 24 stories podcast

Talking Spike Island and tourism marketing with 24 stories podcast
It was my pleasure and privilege to join Narration’s Stephen Ryan to discuss all things Spike Island, tourism marketing and my career to date. I shared with Stephen how I made a move to the… View Post

The pirates and smugglers of Spike Island Cork

The pirates and smugglers of Spike Island Cork
Pirates have been carrying out their murderous activity ever since the first trade vessels took to the seas, so it is little wonder there would be a case of Spike Island pirates. The first documented… View Post

The explosion of the gunship Breda – 1691

The explosion of the gunship Breda – 1691
Spike Island is most famously known as Ireland’s Alcatraz, as a result of the Island housing four prisons over the four centuries. The island fortress is well known in military circles as one of the… View Post

Ireland’s greatest prison escapologist

Ireland’s greatest prison escapologist
Escape from Spike Island prison seemed impossible, but that would not stop the daring. Prison escapes have long fascinated us, with incredibly popular movies like the Shawshank redemption and Escape from Alcatraz proving enduring hits.… View Post