For the second time this year, I got on a boat and went to visit one of the small Islands off the coast of this big Island that I live on. But, I had no intention, (or hope I never have to), of spending a night on this Island. Because, I was visiting Ireland's 'Alcatraz' - Spike Island, Cobh, Co. Cork.
A tiny Island with a huge history.
You can see the Island from the dock at Cobh (pronounced Cove, for you Americans reading!) and could probably jump (if you were a giant!) over, but because of the tides, the ferry takes you round the other Islands in Cork harbour so you get a lovely scenic trip.
Cobh is also famous for the fact that it was the last port that the Titanic paid a visit to on her fateful journey. But enough about that. Although on our trip round the harbor there was a cruise ship from Holland parked? moored? tied up? docked? (I don't know the correct expression, so feel free to correct me) and it looked very imposing just sitting there alongside the quay, its highest point being nearly as tall as Cobh's famous Cathedral.
Anyway, we got to Spike after 10 minutes of sailing and were greeted by a very informative guide. She gave us most of the history of the Island while standing on the dock. But it was very interesting. I'm not going to recount it all to you, you can look it up if you want at spikeislandcork.com. She told us that the Island was a place of incarceration five times in its history. People who fought for religion were jailed here. People who fought for 'Ireland's Cause' were jailed here. People who just fought with each other were jailed here. But the one's who interested me the most were the people who fought to survive, and were jailed here during the Famine for stealing bread to keep themselves and their children alive.
If they survived their time on Spike then they were sent in Prison Ships to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) for fourteen years. If they died, which most of them did, then they were just dumped in a hole and covered up. How awful! This mass grave was discovered by the Irish Navy, when they occupied the Island, while they were excavating a patch of land to convert into a football pitch. How sad! But the Navy didn't build their pitch, instead they built a wall around the patch of land and put up a cross. How nice! There is currently a petition to have all the people who were buried there posthumously pardoned. One prisoner famous political prisoner of the time, John Mitchel who did survive, wrote a book about his time on the Island, call Jail Journal. That's going on my list now to read.
And for the second time this year also, I got to see a prison cell of a famous person. Earlier in the year on a trip to Paris, I saw Marie Antoinette's in the Concierge, where she was kept before she was beheaded. I thought it was grim when I saw it, but it was five star luxury compared to John Mitchel's which was nightmarish. Just a small wooden board on the floor for him to sleep on and a window about a foot wide. It made me really sad.
I've probably painted a miserable picture, but it really was a very enjoyable and informative trip. Especially for the guide, as she was treated to some 'extra' bits of information from my very clever Father, who was able to tell her that John Mitchel was eventually rescued by his friends who sailed to Tasmania and brought him to America, and eventually he got home to Ireland. She probably knew that already, but she was very gracious!! He did make me laugh.
And believe it or not, there was also a concert going on on the Island. So, after all that doom and gloom we were able to sit in the sunshine in the courtyard in the center of the prison walls on a beautiful lawn, and listen to some great music. What a lovely way to finish the tour!
And for the second time this year, I was on a ferry with some musicians!! Some of them were finished their set and got the ferry back to the mainland with us....this is becoming a habit!! I might have to visit another Island soon.
I wonder which one it will be......hmmm.......Lanzarote? Barbados? Jamaica? Tasmania?? Eh...Not sure I would last that long on a boat, no matter how many musicians were on board!! :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment