John Crotty – Author

The largest prison in the world – Spike Island prison

The largest prison in the world – Spike Island prison
The opening of a Spike Island prison in 1847 was completely unexpected just six months before. The enormous island fortress that dominated its center was constructed in 1804, built to defend an Empire. It enjoyed… View Post

Spike Island’s Republican prisoners – 1921

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

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

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 –

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

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

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

John Patrick Leonard – Our man in Paris

John Patrick Leonard – Our man in Paris
At a time when Spike Island was being carved up and commandeered for the defence of the British Empire, a curious thing happened.  A child was born on this tiny island in the early 19th… View Post