Cobh & Spike Island
Cobh
We liked Cobh: reminded me of an English seaside town with its bandstand, neat lawns, ice-cream parlours & a Victorian pillar box (albeit in green). Lots of maritime memorials here, including to the Titanic & Lusitania. The Annie Moore statue commemorates the first Irish immigrant to be processed through Ellis Island in the USA in 1892. I believe that a couple of my great uncles emigrated a bit earlier, but they went to Boston. Cobh is one of the largest & deepest harbours in the world. Sadly with the decline in trade it is not that busy anymore.
From Cobh we took the ferry to Spike Island.
Spike Island
The island is now dominated by the large Fort Mitchel built in response to the Napoleonic threat of invasion. However its history as a monastery goes back over 1,000 years. When turned into a prison in the 1850’s it was then the largest prison in the world. On landing after the ferry from Cobh, you are greeted by a friendly informative guide. This made for a great afternoon walk round the island.
The inside of the fort giving an idea of its size.
The battlements with the guns ready to defend the Cork harbour straits.
Cobh is behind Ann. We did a lot of walking round the island, so a good excuse for a rest in one of the original cells.
