Page 12 - COBH EDITION 1st OCTOBER DIGITAL VERSION

SPIKE ISLAND EXTENDS 2018 OPENING SEASON AFTER STRONG
GROWTH IN VISITOR NUMBERS.
Following a record breaking 2017 which saw the island crowned Europe’s Leading Tourist At-
traction, Spike Island is extending its 2018 opening season to include weekends in November
for the first time. In previous years the island has closed at the end of October but consistent-
ly strong demand has seen the positive step taken, with visitors numbers are set to increase
by 50% in 2018.
Island Manager John Crotty commented “We have been delighted with the response to the at-
traction and we can tell from the emails and phone calls coming in that people are anxious to
come and see us”. “We were at capacity for much of July and August so we feel extending our
opening season will give everyone the chance to come and visit us”. “And with several internal
exhibitions and spaces and a covered ferry and bus on site, the weather is no longer a factor in
visiting the island so an extended opening season makes sense”.

The island hopes to add a second ferry for the 2019 season to deal with growing demand, with
a tender process well under way to more than double the existing ferry capacity with a second
larger boat. The existing capacity on the 80 seat ferry has proved insufficient in July and Au-
gust at peak demand.

As well as winning the World Travel Awards in 2017 the island also won a Chambers Ireland
award for heritage and built environment, and a Cork Business award. The site also took the
top spot for Cork on travel advice website Tripadvisor in late 2016, a position it has held since
then, and Cork County Council Divisional Manger and company director Declan Daly has seen
the site grow from an abandoned island to one of Cork’s go to destinations. “The feedback
had been very positive to date, with visitors enjoying the mix of prison cells, military exhibi-
tions and scenic island walks and ferry journey”. “The challenge now is to continue to deliver
the great tours and experiences we have to date, but also further develop the island to meet
the growing numbers”.

A funding application for the second phase of works is planned in January 2019 which would
see Cork County Council and Failte Ireland co-fund the next round of development, with plans
to open the main prison cell block, add a themed tea rooms and an international welcome hub
on the pier. The total funding could come to over 6 million, as the island seeks to become the
next big name in Irish tourism and top 100.000 visitors in the next 3 years.
“Presently we contribute in excess of 6 million to the economy of Cobh and Cork, and we want
to push that figure into €10 million plus as quickly as possible”, said Mr Crotty.