Spike Island After Dark

Spike Island After Dark Spike Island is a place history and mystery. Visit Spike Island After Dark & walk abandoned prisons What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

Spike Island is a place steeped in history and mystery and visitors have the unique chance to experience the island like never before on the first ever ‘Spike Island After Dark’ tours. Strictly limited to 180 tickets spread over 3 nights, online booking only, early booking advisable. This amazing 104 acre island has accommodated a monastery, fortress and prison in the last 1300 years and is domina

ted by the 24 acre star shaped Fortress Spike. Our torch lit guided tours give visitors a chance to walk abandoned prisons, sit in solitary cells and follow in the footsteps of famous Irish and international prisoners. Boats depart from Kennedy pier, Cobh and after the 20 minute ferry ride our guides will relay the rich history of the town and share the tales of shipwrecks and intrigue that litter Cork harbour. Once on the island we walk in Twilight through time to abandoned villages and historical sites, walking in the footsteps of saints and sinners. Then it is on to the Fortress that during the 1850s was the largest prison in the entire world! Inside the fort we relay the stories of a place so feared a Victorian reporter once exclaimed "Is Spike Island even in a Christian land"? Hear the tales of the mass graves that cover the island, lost souls without a name on a headstone. We visit buildings like the 1850s Punishment block with its solitary cells which were built with the sole purpose of punishing Ireland's penal classes. Then it is on to the former children's prison which holds many memories from its former use and your tour also includes visits to areas that are off limits to regular day tours. Join the best storytellers in Ireland for an evening of incredible tales about a unique place in an ancient land. Many have been, many remain, but will you escape from Fortress Spike? FAQs
Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event? The suggested age limit is 15 and above due to the sometimes gruesome history that is relayed. Responsibility for determining the suitability for any person under 15 rests with the accompaning adult. There are no deliberate scare tactics like 'the nightmare realm', but the tours content and sometimes dark claustrophic cells may be difficult for some people. Cobh town centre parking free from 6pm onwards, €1 per hour beforehand. Parking is also available at Cobh cathederal free of charge. The ferry deaprts from the end of Kennedy pier, just past Titanic Cobh. What can/can't I bring to the event? Please wear warm clothes and be dressed for rainy weather, as part of the tour takes place outside. Visitors are welcome and encouraged to bring your own torch as some will be provided but we cannot garantee one for all members of your party. No wide beam lights, straight beam only. Where can I contact the organiser with any questions? [email protected]

Is my registration/ticket transferrable? Yes, you may pass on your ticket if you cannot attend. Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? Please print your ticket and bring to the ferry embarkation point. The name on the registration/ticket doesn't match the attendee. Is that okay? Yes. What time does the event start? Boat departs at 6pm sharp, please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to departure as the ferry will not wait for late arrivals or return until after the tour. Tour ends at approx 8.10pm with ferry from Spike back to Kennedy pier, Cobh by 8.30pm approx.

They're back! The   After Dark Tours return this February and March.Walk an abandoned prison, sit in a solitary cell and...
12/01/2023

They're back! The After Dark Tours return this February and March.
Walk an abandoned prison, sit in a solitary cell and experience a place of punishment once called 'Ireland's Hell" on an access all areas tour.

Our tours take you to areas of the island usually off limits to the public where our tour guides will share the harrowing history and chilling stories of Ireland's most notorious murders and deviants. Expect eerie tunnels, abandoned prison cells and dark tales of murder and mystery on this candlelit tour.

Will you escape from Spike Island? There's only one way to find out, book your tickets now 👉 https://bit.ly/AfterDarkSpikeIsland

A remote monastery in the Celtic Sea. A fortress, built to defend an empire. An island prison that held a nation. Centuries of Irish social life. Discover 1,300 years of Irish History.

WE’RE BACK!  Spike Island After Dark tours return, giving you the chance to learn our dark history.  You can walk an aba...
25/01/2022

WE’RE BACK! Spike Island After Dark tours return, giving you the chance to learn our dark history. You can walk an abandoned prison, sit in a solitary cell, and experience a place of punishment, once known as Ireland’s hell.

Our day tours relay our vast history, but by night we focus on the dark stories of murderers, their crimes and strange occurrences. There are many tales to delight and chill that we can’t share with any day tour.

You will also see areas off limits by day on this fully guided experience. Join us and deep dive in our incredible past and atmospheric spaces.

https://spikeislandcork.digitickets.ie/availability/

Go all 'dark history' or 'behind the scenes' at Spike Island Cork!  Right now we have tickets to our amazing 'After Dark...
13/08/2021

Go all 'dark history' or 'behind the scenes' at Spike Island Cork! Right now we have tickets to our amazing 'After Dark' tours on sale for August and September. While it wont be completely dark, you will still hear all the amazing dark history tales from our island.

Expect the tales of murderers, awful crimes and difficult punishment, that we cannot tell to any day tour. You can walk an abandoned prison, sit in a solitary cell, and experience a place of punishment, once known as Ireland's hell.
Booking at https://spikeislandcork.digitickets.ie/event-tickets/12111

For those looking for an unforgettable experience, go behind the scenes at Spike Island Cork! As well as the amazing areas and content on the after dark tours, you get to explore the Spike Island tunnels, a dark warren of passageways deep under our forts walls. Grab a hard hat, hi-vis and torch and let your guide lead the way.
The tunnels done, you get to relax in the exclusive 'Captains bar', the old officers mess room on the island. Join us in a toast to the old forts commanders and prison governors, in this history steeped location. Smaller group sizes than other tours.
Booking at https://spikeislandcork.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/34885?catID=35093&

NEW DATES ADDED!  Our exclusive new ‘behind the scenes’ tours are on sale now for Saturdays in August and September, all...
05/08/2021

NEW DATES ADDED! Our exclusive new ‘behind the scenes’ tours are on sale now for Saturdays in August and September, allowing you to enjoy never before seen areas in smaller group sizes.

This exclusive tour lets you explore the Spike Island tunnels, off limits for over a century. Built in 1804 to hold the forts gunpowder, unbelievably they held prisoners in solitary cells in 1847.
Expect dark spaces, long tunnels and amazing history on this torchlight tour.

You also get to see the private Captains bar, where the forts officers raised a glass to toast the week. Enjoy a complementary Spike Island rum in this history soaked area.
Behind the scenes visitors also get to see the ‘abandoned jail’, an area full of spooky stories, and off limits to day visitors.

Learn more here, and join us on a fascinating deep dive into our regular and dark history:

https://www.spikeislandcork.ie/behind-the-scenes-tour

We also have After Dark tours on sale, focusing on our dark history;
https://spikeislandcork.digitickets.ie/event-tickets/12111

We’ll be back with After Dark nights before long, and for those who love spooky vibes, here are some Discovery channel v...
23/04/2021

We’ll be back with After Dark nights before long, and for those who love spooky vibes, here are some Discovery channel videos and visitor pics from Spike Island Cork!
Our island home has a long history of strange sightings, going back to the 1942 when an Irish Army Lieutenant fired a shot at a mysterious figure which vanished, leaving him with some explaining to do.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VrctazefIvA

In the 1800’s the prison surgeon was performing unauthorised autopsies, giving the unfortunate prisoners no rest in life or death.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S2NdhYO5xmg

Irish Naval personnel and prisoners in the 1980’s prison reported many strange occurrences, and more recently visitors on our after dark tours have taken some striking shots.

Shea Wolfe photographed the ‘black entity’ in pic 3 in an empty cell in 2016, while Louise Bunyan snapped image number 4 thinking she was getting an empty cell block but her facial recognition triggered. Brightening of the photo by Peter Howie of ‘Photos of Cork’ revealed the distinctive shapes.

Learn more of our island history at www.spikeislandcork.ie/discover

It has been a long time, but we hope to offer Spike Island 'After Dark' tours soon!  Our tours begins in Cobh with a fer...
13/04/2021

It has been a long time, but we hope to offer Spike Island 'After Dark' tours soon!

Our tours begins in Cobh with a ferry ride across Cork harbour, usually as the sun is setting. Our guides will meet you on the island and walk you past abandoned villages and former homes. Then on we go to Fortress Spike, the Fortress built to defend an empire, which was at one time the largest prison in the world.

You'll hear the harrowing history and spooky stories passed down by our former island residents and historians. While walking abandoned prisons, chilling corridors and solitary cells. There are no forced scares or actors, just the all too true stories from a fearsome prison in a unique corner of 'Ireland’s Ancient East'.

Your tour ends with a nighttime return sailing, seeing beautiful Cobh from the water. Keep an eye out for dates soon...

https://www.spikeislandcork.ie/after-dark-tours

Our island held 1200 Irish republican prisoners in 1921, rebels who fought to free Ireland.  There were hunger strikes, ...
29/01/2021

Our island held 1200 Irish republican prisoners in 1921, rebels who fought to free Ireland. There were hunger strikes, riots, prison escapes, and not all would make it out alive.
We give voice to them this year in our exhibition ‘imprisoning a Nation’, when we return...

COMING 2021: It is 100 years since Spike Island became a prison for the third time in its history, on this occasion holding over 1200 Irish War of Independence prisoners.
We will commemorate the centenary with our new ‘Imprisoning a Nation’ exhibition, which will tell the story of the rebels in their own words through dairies, writing and recordings.

Who were the individuals willing to risk their lives on the ground for Ireland? What motivated them to sustain the fight for so long? And how did they fare on Spike Island, where some endured hunger strikes, prison riots, and others would never leave.
The exhibition includes the first ever public release of a 1980’s audio recording of a former prisoner, Dan O'Donovan from The Quays, Bantry, who was just 18 when he sent to the island. He would survive the war and live to 104.

Discover more about our story, your history, at Spike Island Cork.
https://www.spikeislandcork.ie/_independence_-exhibition-1921

A very happy new year to all our staff and visitors.We cannot wait to welcome you back in 2021, a very important year fo...
31/12/2020

A very happy new year to all our staff and visitors.

We cannot wait to welcome you back in 2021, a very important year for the island as we celebrate 100 years since the opening of the 1921 War of Independence prison.

A very merry Christmas to all our staff and visitors.  We cannot wait to see you to share our history in 2021.
25/12/2020

A very merry Christmas to all our staff and visitors. We cannot wait to see you to share our history in 2021.

2021 will make it 174 years since the famine era prison opened on Spike Island in 1847.  It grew to become the largest p...
24/12/2020

2021 will make it 174 years since the famine era prison opened on Spike Island in 1847. It grew to become the largest prison in the world at the time with over 2300 inmates. Many of Ireland’s starving committed crimes of desperation and ended up in our crammed cells.

When we return you can walk the original punishment block, built in 1859 to hold the islands unruly prisoners. Discover more about our history, your story, at Spike Island Cork.

https://www.spikeislandcork.ie/famine-era-prison-1847

For those who love Halloween vibes, here are some spooky images and video from Spike Island Cork!Our island home has a l...
29/10/2020

For those who love Halloween vibes, here are some spooky images and video from Spike Island Cork!
Our island home has a long history of ghostly sightings, back to the 1942 when an Irish Army Lieutenant fired a shot at a mysterious figure which vanished, leaving him with some explaining to do.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VrctazefIvA

In the 1800’s the prison surgeon was performing unauthorised autopsies, giving the unfortunate prisoners no rest in life or death.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S2NdhYO5xmg

Irish Naval personnel and prisoners in the 1980’s prison reported many strange occurrences, and more recently visitors on our after dark tours have taken some striking shots.
Shea Wolfe photographed the black entity in pic 3 in an empty cell in 2016, while Louise Bunyan snapped image number 4 thinking she was getting an empty cell block but her facial recognition triggered. Brightening of the photo by Peter Howie of ‘Photos of Cork’ revealed the distinctive shape in image 5.
Image 6 was taken in the same area which was empty at the time of the picture in 2019, while image 7 was also another part of the same empty cell block.

Some seriously spooky stories and images, and you can learn the fascinating dark history of our island on our After Dark tours, when we return. Happy Halloween to all our visitors...

Spike island after dark tours are cancelled due to the raising of restrictions.  All tickets booked during this time wil...
06/10/2020

Spike island after dark tours are cancelled due to the raising of restrictions. All tickets booked during this time will be automatically refunded. Stay safe and we hope to see you soon.

Spike Island 'After Dark' tours are back!  Every Saturday in September and October.  Your tour begins from Cobh with a f...
08/09/2020

Spike Island 'After Dark' tours are back! Every Saturday in September and October. Your tour begins from Cobh with a ferry ride across Cork harbour as the sun is setting. Our guides will meet you on the island and walk you past abandoned villages and former homes. Then on we go to Fortress Spike, the Fortress built to defend an empire, which was at one time the largest prison in the world.

You'll hear the harrowing history and spooky stories passed down by our former island residents. While walking abandoned prisons, chilling corridors and solitary cells. There are no forced scares or actors, just the all too true stories from a fearsome prison in a unique corner of 'Ireland’s Ancient East'.

Your tour ends with a nighttime return seeing beautiful Cobh from the water. Will you escape from Fortress Spike Island?

Book now to join us and find out....
https://www.spikeislandcork.ie/after-dark

ON SALE NOW!  We are currently planning to run After Dark tours in September and October, and they are on sale right now...
08/08/2020

ON SALE NOW! We are currently planning to run After Dark tours in September and October, and they are on sale right now! Saturday nights with tours in late August/ September in a brighter setting with the same great content, and becoming an ‘After Dark’ setting with earlier sunsets in October.

You can walk an abandoned prison, sit in a solitary cell and discover a place of punishment once known as Ireland’s hell. Expect to hear details of our prisons murderers, cutthroats and ghostly occurrences that we cannot share with any day tour!

Booking at https://spikeislandcork.digitickets.ie/event-tickets/12111
Please see our Covid page for details of a visit during Covid 19 so you can make an informed choice. https://www.spikeislandcork.ie/spike-island-covid-visit-information

(Should any planned event need to be cancelled due to new Covid 19 restrictions all tickets will be refunded within 5 days.)

Address

Kennedy Pier
Cobh

Opening Hours

5pm - 9pm

Telephone

+353212373455

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Spike Island After Dark posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Spike Island After Dark:

Videos

Share

Category

Our Story

Spike Island is a place steeped in history and mystery and visitors have the unique chance to experience the island like never before on the first ever ‘Spike Island After Dark’ tours. Strictly limited to 180 tickets spread over 3 nights, online booking only, early booking advisable. This amazing 104 acre island has accommodated a monastery, fortress and prison in the last 1300 years and is dominated by the 24 acre star shaped Fortress Spike. Our torch lit guided tours give visitors a chance to walk abandoned prisons, sit in solitary cells and follow in the footsteps of famous Irish and international prisoners. Boats depart from Kennedy pier, Cobh and after the 20 minute ferry ride our guides will relay the rich history of the town and share the tales of shipwrecks and intrigue that litter Cork harbour. Once on the island we walk in Twilight through time to abandoned villages and historical sites, walking in the footsteps of saints and sinners. Then it is on to the Fortress that during the 1850s was the largest prison in the entire world! Inside the fort we relay the stories of a place so feared a Victorian reporter once exclaimed "Is Spike Island even in a Christian land"? Hear the tales of the mass graves that cover the island, lost souls without a name on a headstone. We visit buildings like the 1850s Punishment block with its solitary cells which were built with the sole purpose of punishing Ireland's penal classes. Then it is on to the former children's prison which holds many memories from its former use and your tour also includes visits to areas that are off limits to regular day tours. Join the best storytellers in Ireland for an evening of incredible tales about a unique place in an ancient land. Many have been, many remain, but will you escape from Fortress Spike? FAQs Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event? The suggested age limit is 15 and above due to the sometimes gruesome history that is relayed. Responsibility for determining the suitability for any person under 15 rests with the accompaning adult. There are no deliberate scare tactics like 'the nightmare realm', but the tours content and sometimes dark claustrophic cells may be difficult for some people. What are my transport/parking options getting to the event? Cobh town centre parking free from 6pm onwards, €1 per hour beforehand. Parking is also available at Cobh cathederal free of charge. The ferry deaprts from the end of Kennedy pier, just past Titanic Cobh. What can/can't I bring to the event? Please wear warm clothes and be dressed for rainy weather, as part of the tour takes place outside. Visitors are welcome and encouraged to bring your own torch as some will be provided but we cannot garantee one for all members of your party. No wide beam lights, straight beam only. Where can I contact the organiser with any questions? [email protected] Is my registration/ticket transferrable? Yes, you may pass on your ticket if you cannot attend. Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? Please print your ticket and bring to the ferry embarkation point. The name on the registration/ticket doesn't match the attendee. Is that okay? Yes. What time does the event start? Each tour has a different departure time, please check your ticket on booking, please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to departure as the ferry will not wait for late arrivals or return until after the tour. Each tour ends at a different time dependent on start time and includes breaks and rest opportunities. Depart and return at Kennedy pier, Cobh.