Spike Island’s Republican prisoners – 1921

TD’s, teachers, shirt cutters, cheese makers, farmers, dentists and more.. The Irish War of Independence raged throughout 1920, resulting in thousands of arrested Irish Republican prisoners and internees. This was more than Britain could suitably… View Post

The Gravedigger – Dubliner Joseph Dwyer

In the Victorian world of the deadly and dastardly, Joseph Dwyer’s crime stood out… Dublin of the mid-1850’s was a place of contrast. In the century beforehand, the city had developed a beautiful Georgian centre,… View Post

Today with Maura and Daithi visit Spike Island Cork – Interview with Colm Flynn and John Crotty

Reporter Colm Flynn visits Ireland’s historic island to discover its rich history, interviewing manager John Crotty and other island staff. See other interviews related to Spike Island – Nationwide visit – How the Victorians built… View Post

How the Victorian’s built Britain visit Spike Island – Interview with Michael Buerk –

This special episode of ‘How the Victorian’s built Britain’ focuses on crime and reform, visiting Spike Island Cork where John Crotty talks to host Michael Buerk about the super prison that was Ireland’s Alcatraz in… View Post

The world’s greatest explorer and the lost city of gold

The worlds greatest explorer found himself living on Spike Island Cork for three years

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RTE’s Nationwide visit Spike Island Cork – Interview with former manager John Crotty

In this interview RTE’s Nationwide discuss the future for the Irish Alcatraz, which only reopened to visitors in 2016 following major reinvestment, and close to two centuries being off limits to the general public. View Post

The warrior poet and the Dubliner – teacher Edward Walsh

Spike Island has had a long association with writers. Several former residents have published books, while a number of other visitors have inspired them, including former prisoners. These published works range from the adventures of… View Post