St. Colman’s students enjoy a prison break on Spike Island
Last Thursday, 31st March St. Colman’s TY students from Fermoy escaped the classrooms to break into what was once formerly known as the world’s largest prison - Spike Island Prison to be precise! They quickly realised that this was not only a prison, but an island rich with 1,300 years of Irish history encompassing a remote monastery in the Celtic Sea, a fortress built to defend an empire, an island prison that held a nation, a village now stood abandoned and an intriguing microcosm of Irish life.
In the last 1,300 years, Spike Island has been host to a 7th century monastery, a 24 acre fortress, the largest convict depot in the world in Victorian times and centuries of island homes. The island’s rich history has included monks and monasteries, rioters and redcoats, captains and convicts and sinners and saints. Today, the island is dominated by the 200 year old Fort Mitchell, the star shaped fortress which became a prison holding over 2,300 prisoners was the largest prison in the world at the time and there has never been a larger prison in Ireland or Britain before or since.
TY David Moore was thrilled with this tour - “I enjoyed exploring the prison cells and abandoned village. It was like walking in history.”
The students took the ferry from Cobh and braced the cold winds and choppy sea on a fresh sunny March Day. They then met their tour guide, Carl who led them on this historic and scenic adventure. The students were intrigued by the prison and voraciously explored the cells. They were particularly startled by the solitary confinement cell.
Student Seán O’Donoghue was very impressed with the day - “The history of the island before the prison was very interesting. I never knew this island, with its rich history existed. It was amazing.” The students particularly enjoyed the story of ‘Joy Ride Island’ where the only thing that could stop young prisoners rioting on the roof of the prison one night was the threat of a phone call to their mothers. Some things never change!
Spike Island tour guide, Carl said: “It’s fantastic to welcome students back here after the pandemic. The site was supposed to be demolished in 2006 and we are so grateful that it was preserved. It’s lovely for the students to have history come alive I look forward to welcoming back Colman’s students anytime.”
Spike Island has left a lasting impression on St. Colman’s College students.