{"product_id":"9781845889104-spike-island","title":"Spike Island","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSaints, Felons and Famine\u003cbr\u003eExplores the island through two different environments: from the founding of the monastery there by Saint Carthage to the use of the island as a place of detention, punishment and undignified death.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe dominant star shaped fortress on \u003cem\u003eSpike Island\u003c\/em\u003e testifies to it's strategic importance in the once heavily fortified bastion of British military might that was Cork Harbour.\u003c\/strong\u003e Beneath and around this edifice however lies the story of an island steeped in extensive Irish heritage that stretches further back into the mists of Irelands past beyond the arrival of the Normans and on through to the darkest period of Irish history. From an island of ecclesiastical retreat and contemplation to a dark and godforsaken destination of victims of Ireland's Great Famine, \u003cem\u003eSpike Island\u003c\/em\u003e has been a part of two contrasting periods in Irish history. The era of saints and scholars during which Spike was described as a Holy Island is set against a later backdrop of famine, disease and death and the dark judicial practice that saw men and boys transported from it to the penal colonies of distant Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book explores the island through these two very different environments from the founding of the monastery there by Saint Carthage to the use of the island as a place of detention, punishment and undignified death. From saints to starvation, '\u003cem\u003eSpike Island\u003c\/em\u003e' embodies a part of the brightest a darkest legacy of Ireland's history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40946031853665,"sku":"9781845889104","price":10.57,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_29694701.jpg?v=1725696347","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781845889104-spike-island","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}