Once the largest prison in the British Empire, the hellish Spike Island is said to be haunted by ghosts left over from its days as a fortress, smugglers' hideout, and then the prison it became.
Just off the coast of Cobh in Ireland, Spike Island stands as one of Ireland’s most enigmatic and haunted landmarks. Covering over 100 acres and boasting a history dating back to the 7th century, the island has seen centuries of transformation, from a peaceful monastic community to a powerful fortress for British forces.
Beneath this serene facade lies a harrowing tale of strategic importance, entrapment, and spine-chilling encounters with the paranormal.
From monastery to fortress
Saint Mochuda founded a monastery there in the 7th century. In 1779, Spike Island underwent a significant transformation, becoming a strategic fortress for British forces.
The island’s unique position on the edge of Cork Harbour made it the perfect location for this military outpost. Shields were built to contain weapons aimed directly at the harbour, serving as a powerful deterrent to potential adversaries.
From the fortress to prison
As history progressed, Spike Island took on a more sinister role. It was transformed into a prison and a holding place for convicts destined for challenging lives in penal colonies abroad. For a few years in the mid-19th century, it was probably the largest prison in the British Empire.
During the turbulent years of the Irish War of Independence, the island was used as a detention centre for IRA prisoners until 1921, earning it the ominous nickname of “Irish Alcatraz”.
Woman in white
While Spike Island’s physical role has evolved over the years, its haunting history has endured. Today, it is an Alcatraz-like tourist attraction, complete with its own ghostly inhabitants. One of the most notorious apparitions is the enigmatic “White Woman” who roams the island, her presence shrouded in mystery, and who she was may never be known.
The Spirit of Soldiers
The haunting is said to be long-standing, at least since the island was used as a fortress. Island soldiers on duty in the middle of the night have reported terrifying encounters with the ghost of an officer.
According to them, there is a ghost of a terrifying soldier, always on guard. Along the walls of the island stands a ghostly soldier, whose eyes have been replaced by empty spaces that seem to peer into the abyss, and his black holes are his eyes.
People are so terrified of this ghost that they even open fire on it, only to realize that they are shooting at nothing.
Haunted Prison and John Mitchell's Ghost
Prison cells where countless prisoners once suffered now seethe with paranormal activity, a testament to the ongoing suffering of those who served their sentences behind the frosty, stone walls where they were locked for most of the day and night.
One of the inmates believed to haunt the prison is John Mitchell, who is said to appear in white mist, although he was released from prison island.
John Mitchel was a prominent figure in Irish nationalism in the 19th century. Born in County Derry in 1815, he became a leading member of the Young Irelander and Irish Confederation movements. He was a lawyer, political journalist and an outspoken critic of British rule in Ireland, especially during the Irish Famine.
In order to silence Mitchel and prevent his martyrdom, the British government passed the Treason Felony Act of 1848, which aimed to make treason a common crime. Mitchel was arrested and convicted of inciting a rebellion under the act, receiving a sentence of fourteen years deportation. He was first sent to Spike Island in Ireland for three days before being transferred to Bermuda and finally to Australia in 1850.
During his journey, Mitchell began writing his renowned “Prison Diary,” or “Five Years in British Prisons,” in which he chronicled his experiences from Dublin to New York, where he arrived in 1853. The diary, first published in New York in 1854, exposed the harsh conditions in some prisons, including Spike Island, and attracted international attention.
In 1951 the fort on Spike Island was renamed Fort Mitchel in his honour, and some GAA clubs in Ireland and facilities in America are named after him.
Haunted Cell 9
The most haunted cell was cell number 9, which was known to be haunted even when the building was operating as a prison, and prisoners refused to stay there because they could never sleep at night due to the haunting. They were either woken up or thrown out of bed.
Echoes of the Past on Spike Island
The terrifying history of Spike Island, from its monastic beginnings to its tumultuous tenure as a military stronghold and prison, continues to cast its ominous shadow over this enigmatic landmark. The ghostly White Woman, a spectral soldier, and a ghostly officer are just a few of the restless souls that roam the haunted grounds, ensuring that the island’s chilling past remains alive and well for those who dare to delve into its dim history.
References:
John Mitchel – Spike Cork Island
Ghost Stories, Haunted Cells, Scary History at Spike Island After Dark Tours in Cork
7 Most Haunted and Mysterious Islands in Ireland | Spooky Isles Spike Island | Haunted Cobh, Cork, Ireland | Spirited Isle
Image Source: Pixabay.com
