Spike Island

Discover Captains and Convicts and Sinners and Saints at Ireland’s prison island, voted Europe’s Leading tourist attraction of 2017!

Spike Island Cork opened its doors to the public in 2016 after 1300 years of isolation. The island was first used as a Monastery in the 6th century before a star shaped Fort was built in the late 1700’s. The island is most famous for the prison that opened in 1847 and soon grew to become the largest prison in the world with 2300 inmates. There has never been a larger prison in Britain or Ireland before or since, and the island was used as a prison on 3 other occasions and widely known as ‘Ireland’s Alcatraz’.

Today the island can be visited by a short and scenic ferry ride from beautiful Cobh. Once on the island visitors can take the guided tour, use an audioguide or self guide the island’s 104 acres using the free map and app. Discover prison cells, deep tunnels, the military Fortress, exhibitions and several museums and scenic island walks.

There is a 100 seater cafe on site for tea, coffee and snacks and a mini bus to carry passengers from the pier to the Fortress. Suitable for all age ranges and interests, a visit can be as short as 2 hours or you could easily spend all day wandering the island.

With strong links to the UK, US, France, Germany and Australia, discover your connection and uncover the past at Fortress Spike Island.