Cork County Council has published a draft master plan for the future development of Spike Island.

Compiled by a team of experts, led by Scott Tallon Walker and destination specialists, CHL Consulting, the document plans out the magnificent opportunity to create a new 100 acre national park on the water, with the 40 acre Mitchel Fort at its centre, renovated and developed as a complex of cultural heritage attractions and museums.

Geared to meet the challenges of current funding, the project calls for the leveraging of the island's unique historic and geographic characteristics to offer a variety of visitor experiences, from community based projects, to adventure tourism to re-enactments of military and penal life, to exhibitions, a major aquarium and learning centre dedicated to oceanography and the expansive marine resources of Ireland's Continental Shelf. The proposed attractions comprise three separate, but closely related, product groups which can be developed over three main phases.

-- Advertisement --

Phase 1 is generally small scale and focused on the Island environment and its history. Phase 2 concentrates on The Fort Experience, living history interpretation, enhanced fort tours, and visitor services etc; Phase 3 will include a major attraction combining a uniquely designed aquarium with demonstrations of the extraordinary marine research being conducted by Cork-based education and research institutions. The Island management is also expected to target summertime events and concerts, as a participating venue in the existing city and county festival calendar, growing to independent and national events with capacities of over 6,000 people.

The project promotes the clustering of economic development potential in the lower harbour area through phased investment in quality ferry services and linkages between Cobh, Spike, Haulbowline and other waterside villages and attractions.

(CD/GK)