Spike Island to commemorate its history during War of Independence
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Old IRA and British Army reenactors, displays of weaponry from the War of Independence era, informative lectures and a chance to follow in the footsteps of ‘a great escape’ are to be experienced on the site of what was once the largest prison in the world.
Spike Island, in Cork Harbour, will be the venue for a special series of events on the weekend of Saturday, September 30, and Sunday, October 1, to commemorate its role as an internment camp for up to 1,200 IRA prisoners who were held there during Ireland’s fight for freedom.
Tom O’Neill, a renowned expert on that period, who has worked extensively on the overall history of what’s been dubbed "Ireland’s Alcatraz", said the weekend’s events are dedicated to commemorating its history during the Irish War of Independence.
“It will feature reenactors portraying the Irish Volunteers and Crown Forces, an original 1921 prison hut, and an extensive display of firearms and weapons from the period.
The weekend will also see a series of short presentations in the surroundings of the authentic prison hut on subjects such as the "1921 Military Prison in the Field'," Mr O’Neill said.
One lecture on ‘The Weapons of the War of Independence’ and 'The Cork Male Gaol 1920' hunger strikers — later imprisoned on Spike Island — will be given by Conor Kenny, grandson of internee Joseph Kenny.
Attendees will also hear connections between Spike Island and Bere Island, off the coast of Castletownbere, which were prisons at the time for IRA men.
There will also be a lecture on Cork City IRA officer Mick Murphy, who was only recently discovered to have been a prisoner on Spike under an alias. This will be given by Daniel Cremin, his great-grandson.
“People can also hear about what life was like for the Republican prisoners held captive, and about those who lost their lives during the subsequent Irish Civil War,” Mr O’Neill said.
“This special event commemorates the Irish rebels who risked their lives for the cause of freedom,” he added.
On Saturday, ferries will depart Cobh at 5pm for a special ‘escape tour’ which will follow the footsteps of seven IRA prisoners who managed to get off the island.
They secretly cleared an old tunnel area and went through it under cover of darkness, evading the searchlights and prison guards before escaping in a boat.
This fully guided tour provides access to areas typically off-limits to the public.
Advanced booking is advised for all weekend activities, especially the escape tour. They can be made at Tickets and Tours, Spike Island Cork.
Apart from that, ferries will depart Kennedy Quay, Cobh, from 10am-2pm daily for the other weekend events.