Spike Island’s After Dark Tours return: Explore the haunting history of iconic prison island once dubbed “Ireland’s Hell”

Pre booking essential as tickets expected to sell out

Spike Island has announced the return of its popular After Dark Tours for two additional dates in the lead-up to the summer months – Saturday 20^th April and Saturday 4^th May.

Through these unique night-time tours, visitors can unlock the dark secrets of the iconic prison island through an exclusive guided tour, and gain access to areas of the island usually off limits to the public.

Not for the faint hearted, visitors will walk down the creepy candlelit corridors and eerie tunnels, explore an abandoned prison cell block and experience the brutal solitary confinement area.

As well as this, expert tour guides will recount the chilling history of Ireland’s most notorious murderers and deviants. 

Once known as “Ireland’s Hell,” attendees on the all-access tours will learn about the horrific treatment of the island’s inmates during the 1850’s.

The notorious prison island, once the largest prison in Ireland and Britain, was also the scene of many gruesome murders throughout the years, including a 19^th-century prison warden and nationalist prisoner Patrick White who was killed by his captors.

The tour also includes a short ferry ride across Cork Harbour to the island, followed by a guided walk around the island sharing the harrowing history and stories passed down by former residents.

During the Great Famine, over 2,300 inmates were imprisoned at Spike Island, and the 10% death rate shows the harsh conditions prisoners endured.

It is believed that 1,300 convicts are buried in mass graves throughout Spike Island.

Tickets for Spike Island’s After Dark Tours are expected to sell out in advance of the two dates, so pre-booking to avoid disappointment is essential at www.spikeislandcork.ie  

*Please note this tour is for over-16s only.