Spike Island, County Cork

Spike Island is located within a short distance from the charming maritime hamlet of Cobh in County Cork. The island, which spans 103 acres, has served as a monastery colony as well as a jail. These are only a few of the top things to do in Spike Island, Ireland.

Spike Island has been around for over a thousand years, serving purposes that have nothing in common save the location. Spike Island was a monastic hamlet that had a 6th-century Monastery. Then, a 24-acre stronghold was erected during the Victorian period which held a jail that the island is now renowned for. This castle houses the world's biggest prisoner depot, a star-shaped structure known as 'Fort Mitchel.'

Spike Island has evolved into one of the top attractions in County Cork throughout the years. Tourists commonly refer to it as the "Alcatraz of Ireland," referring to the island near San Francisco, California. It has not been that exposed to the public for a long time, although the island already garnered honors such as Europe’s leading tourist destination 2017 at the World Travel Awards and it’s regarded as one of the nicest islands in Ireland.