Spike Island, Island fortress in Cork Harbour, Ireland.
Spike Island is a 103-acre island in Cork Harbour containing Fort Mitchel, a star-shaped military fortress with high stone walls built in the early 1800s. The structure was designed strategically to protect the harbor and later served as a prison facility.
The island began as a religious center in the 7th century and later became an important military fortress when the British controlled it in the 1800s. During the Great Famine of 1847, it operated as the world's largest prison facility with thousands of inmates.
The monastery founded by Saint Mochuda in the 7th century left behind structures that visitors can still see on the island today. These early religious buildings show how important this place was to Ireland's spiritual past.
The island is reachable by ferry from Kennedy Pier in Cobh, which runs regularly and takes about 15 minutes across the harbor. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes as there is plenty to explore and weather can be changeable.
The fort is so spacious that the entire Alcatraz prison could fit within its fortified walls. This impressive scale shows how seriously British military builders took the defense of the harbor.
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