Council aims to lure 70,000 visitors to ex-prison island

Three interpretive centres are to be opened on Spike Island in the summer of 2015, which will kickstart a series of projects aimed at turning it into a major tourist attraction, according to county manager Martin Riordan.

He made his comments yesterday after Bord Fáilte confirmed it was reversing its initial decision not to grant aid for the project and was to release €2.5m for redevelopment of the island.

“We were disappointed by Bord Fáilte’s earlier decision, but reinvigorated by the latest news,” he said.