SPIKE ISLAND CORK - The story of our Irish War of Independence prisoners - 'Imprisoning a Nation'

In 1921 as the Irish War of Independence raged Spike Island was converted into a military prison. Over 1200 Irish rebels would be held on the island, many of them lifted off the streets. These freedom fighters would endure hunger strikes, prison riots, and there were daring escapes. We tell their stories in our 'Imprisoning a Nation' exhibition, new for 2021 on Spike Island. It will contain original diaries written by the prisoners, crafts they made and even a newly discovered 1985 audio recording made of one of the men held on Spike Island in 1921. The records of the prisoners can be searched by name, town, county and place of arrest in our genealogy section. Come discover our story, your history, at Spike Island Cork.