Listen Live

Spike Island encouraged by number of visitors following recent easing of restrictions

Monday, 21 June 2021 14:26

Spike Island is celebrating five years since the former fortress and prison was turned into a major tourist attraction following a €6.5 million investment by Cork County Council

81,000 people visited the island in 2019 and there been hopes to increase that figure to 100,000 in 2020 before Covid hit. 

The island has one won several international awards including Best European Tourist Attraction in 2017.  

Speaking to RedFM News, Island manager John Crotty outlines his hopes for Spike:

"Given that a higher percentage about 25% of our visitors were hoped to be international, you've got to write that off straightaway so you're not going to see them, we are still seeing a bit of caution in the older market and the seniors market, although the vaccination programmes should help with that. So anything around 50,000 to be a great number for us, we're seeing a lot more Dubliners, we're seeing a lot more up the west coast from Clare from the likes of their up and Galway, which is fantastic. I think people who it's a much bigger day trip for, perhaps even the overnight, which is great for us and it's great for the local economy as well."

Share

More from Cork