Spike Island remembers 1200 Irish rebels held during 1921

2021 is a big year Spike Island, as the island will commemorate the centenary of a War of Independence prison that opened in 1921. The ‘Military prison in the field’ on Spike island was opened to house Irish rebels engaged in a bloody War of Independence, that raged from 1919 to 1921. As many as 1200 prisoners and internees were held on the island, with over 500 at any one time. The island, which is run by Cork County Council, is planning an exhibition dedicated to the lives of the Irish rebels. It will contain the history of the prison, over 130 photographs of the men, a newly discovered audio recording of a prisoner made in the 1980’s, and new artefacts on display like diaries written and signed by the prisoners.