In 1852, Cork was home to the largest prison in the world.
2461 convicts were officially assigned to Spike Island.
Almost 60% of Ireland’s male convict population, in 1 place.
How large does that make it?
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2461 convicts were officially assigned to Spike Island.
Almost 60% of Ireland’s male convict population, in 1 place.
How large does that make it?
1/6
For starters, the prison remains the largest ever formal prison in Irish history.
Mountjoy opened in 1850.
Its 500 single cells were considered enormous for the time.
Spike Island was nearly 5 times that capacity, in the same decade.
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Mountjoy opened in 1850.
Its 500 single cells were considered enormous for the time.
Spike Island was nearly 5 times that capacity, in the same decade.
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The prison is still the largest ever in British history.
HMP Oakwoad can hold 2106 prisoners, a behemoth.
HMP Five Wells cost over 250 Million to build, holding almost 1700 prisoners.
Both are 20% / 30% smaller than a prison on a Cork Island, 170 years ago
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HMP Oakwoad can hold 2106 prisoners, a behemoth.
HMP Five Wells cost over 250 Million to build, holding almost 1700 prisoners.
Both are 20% / 30% smaller than a prison on a Cork Island, 170 years ago
3/6
Internationally, New York’s notorious Sing Sing prison grew from 800 to 1600 prisoners around the same time.
Fellow island prison Alcatraz became infamous, yet its population never exceeded 302.
That makes Spike Island’s peak figure 8 times larger.
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Fellow island prison Alcatraz became infamous, yet its population never exceeded 302.
That makes Spike Island’s peak figure 8 times larger.
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The number was surpassed in modern times.
As many as 10000 populate Rikers Island in New York, but it and many like it are being closed.
The dangers of so many prisoners in one location is clear.
They failed to learn from the super prison that was @SpikeIslandCork
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As many as 10000 populate Rikers Island in New York, but it and many like it are being closed.
The dangers of so many prisoners in one location is clear.
They failed to learn from the super prison that was @SpikeIslandCork
5/6
@SpikeIslandCork Read more about this penal mega structure, and the history that brought about its existence, here -
johncrottyauthor.com/the-largest-pr…
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johncrottyauthor.com/the-largest-pr…
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#Cork #History #Irishhistory
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