Later a prison and convict depot, the island was used to house convicts prior to penal transportation.
Opened in 1847 to deal with growing number of convictions for theft during the Great Famine, the prison grew into what "for a few years in the mid-19th century [..] was probably [..] the biggest prison in the British Empire".
It gained a reputation as "Ireland's Alcatraz".

Spike Island was home to Ellen (Nellie) Organ who gained special permission to take First Communion shortly before her death at the age of 4.
On hearing her story, the pope lowered the age at which communion could be taken, from 12 to 7.

The island remained in use as a garrison and prison through the Irish War of Independence, when IRA prisoners were held there.
Richard Barrett was among those detained there, but escaped during the truce of 1921.
Over 1400 men were held on the island at its peak  until the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

On 6 December 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was concluded.
It provided for the establishment of the Irish Free State which happened on 6 December 1922.
The Treaty included provisions by which the British would retain sovereignty over three strategically important ports known as the Treaty ports, one of which is described in the Treaty as:
Queenstown(b) Harbour defences to remain in charge of British care and maintenance parties.
Certain mooring buoys to be retained for use of His Majesty's ships.

Accordingly, even after the establishment of the Irish Free State, the Royal Navy continued to maintain its presence at Spike Island.
Spike Island remained under British sovereignty until 11 July 1938 when pursuant to the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement of 25 April 1938, the territory was ceded to Ireland.
The handover ceremonies were attended by senior military and political figures, including Éamon de Valera and Frank Aiken.
Later a prison and convict depot, the island was used to house convicts prior to penal transportation. Opened in 1847 to deal with growing number of convictions for theft during the Great Famine, the prison grew into what "for a few years in the mid-19th century [..] was probably [..] the biggest prison in the British Empire". It gained a reputation as "Ireland's Alcatraz".
Spike Island was home to Ellen (Nellie) Organ who gained special permission to take First Communion shortly before her death at the age of 4. On hearing her story, the pope lowered the age at which communion could be taken, from 12 to 7.
The island remained in use as a garrison and prison through the Irish War of Independence, when IRA prisoners were held there. Richard Barrett was among those detained there, but escaped during the truce of 1921. Over 1400 men were held on the island at its peak  until the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.
On 6 December 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was concluded. It provided for the establishment of the Irish Free State which happened on 6 December 1922. The Treaty included provisions by which the British would retain sovereignty over three strategically important ports known as the Treaty ports, one of which is described in the Treaty as:
Queenstown(b) Harbour defences to remain in charge of British care and maintenance parties. Certain mooring buoys to be retained for use of His Majesty's ships.
Accordingly, even after the establishment of the Irish Free State, the Royal Navy continued to maintain its presence at Spike Island. Spike Island remained under British sovereignty until 11 July 1938 when pursuant to the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement of 25 April 1938, the territory was ceded to Ireland. The handover ceremonies were attended by senior military and political figures, including Éamon de Valera and Frank Aiken.
Spike Island, County Cork