Clearly visible from Cobh, Spike Island (spikeislandcork.ie; adult/child including ferry & guided tour €27.95/14.95) lies low and green in Cork Harbour. It was once an important part of the port's defences, topped by a huge 18th-century artillery fort that commanded the harbor entrance. In the second half of the 19th century, during the Irish War of Independence and from 1984 to 2004, it served as a prison, gaining the nickname 'Ireland's Alcatraz'.
A trip to Spike Island begins with a 12-minute boat trip across the harbor, departing from Cobh’s central Kennedy Pier. On arrival, you get a 45-minute guided walking tour of the former prison buildings, the old punishment block, the shell store (once used as a children's prison) and No 2 Bastion with its massive 6in gun. You're then free to explore on your own.
Highlights include the Gun Park, with a good display of mostly 20th-century artillery; the Mitchell Hall, with an exhibit on the SS Aud, a German ship loaded with arms for the 1916 Easter Rising that was sunk in the entrance to Cork Harbour; and the Glacis Walk, a 1.5km trail that leads around the walls of the fortress, with great views of Cobh town and the harbor entrance. There's a cafe and toilets on the island; allow around four hours in all.
