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Spike Island is Europe's leading tourist attraction.

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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,129 ✭✭✭Arsemageddon


    Dunno, maybe because it's a nice place to visit?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 315 ✭✭kurtainsider


    Dunno, maybe because it's a nice place to visit?

    I may be absolutely lovely - but the nicest place in Europe?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,514 ✭✭✭bee06


    It does seems strange if it's based on number of visitors. The number of people who can go is limited by the number who can fit on the boats. I was there a couple of months ago and it is class. The tour guides are excellent.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,194 ✭✭✭foxy farmer


    If it's being run by Cork Co Co I wonder how long it'll stay open. They were in charge of the Gunpowder Mills in Ballincollig too and that closed after 3 yrs.
    A lot of artefacts memorabilia attached to the Gunpowder Mills is now to be found in the Spike Island Visitor Centre.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,452 ✭✭✭✭The_Valeyard


    Its class to visit, Irelands Alcatraz, just with former joyriders.


    Who knows, maybe tourists run out of things to do in Cork very quickly, so everyone flocks there :P


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 764 ✭✭✭hedzball


    Its class to visit, Irelanss Alcatraz, just with former joyriders.


    Who knows, maybe tourists run out of things to do in Cork very quickly, so everyone flocks there :P



    Being fair theres more for tourists in Cork and Kerry than the rest of the country combined. Galway is a runner in my opinion but shiote all else that you can't wipe out in a weekend!



    'hdz


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,216 ✭✭✭✭Welsh Megaman


    It looked pretty rubbish when The Stone Roses played there.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,452 ✭✭✭✭The_Valeyard


    hedzball wrote: »
    Being fair theres more for tourists in Cork and Kerry than the rest of the country combined. Galway is a runner in my opinion but shiote all else that you can't wipe out in a weekend!



    'hdz

    Doesnt matter ye still shot Collins! :P


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40,059 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    Presumably this is based on a visitor rating certainly not numbers - more people go up and down the Eiffel Tower than visit Ireland


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,705 ✭✭✭Mountainsandh


    Maybe it's because visits there have "only just" started, so proportionally they have an influx of visitors that went from zero to hero (in comparison to other places that are established longer) ?
    I've never been, but it's on the list.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo


    In fairness, it is lovely there. It's an island, in a harbour, on a bigger island (Ireland) which must be in many ways appealing to visitors from abroad. The view back towards Cobh from there with the massive Cathedral up on the hill is a sight to behold. Think the whole Titanic's last port of call being there plays into the whole folklore around the area for tourists as well.

    Many cruise ships dock exactly where the Titanic last set sail from. And from there it is a few minutes walk to the boat that can take you across to Spike Island, so it has a big ease of access factor too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,514 ✭✭✭bee06


    If it's being run by Cork Co Co I wonder how long it'll stay open. They were in charge of the Gunpowder Mills in Ballincollig too and that closed after 3 yrs.
    A lot of artefacts memorabilia attached to the Gunpowder Mills is now to be found in the Spike Island Visitor Centre.

    They are putting a huge amount of inventment to continue developing it.

    It's not just tourists that go either. I'm from Cork I'd I've been once and will be back again. Really want to do the after dark tour.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,971 ✭✭✭✭bear1



    So it has had so far 45k people this year which from the sounds of it is more than the amount of people who went to the colosseum..
    Yeah nothing weird about that at all.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,772 ✭✭✭✭Whispered


    It's an absolutely brilliant morning out. We went as a small group ranging in age from early 60s to 2 yrs old.

    The boat over gave amazing views of Cobh, the tour guide was friendly, relaxed but very knowledgable and very passionate about the place. You get the tour then you can explore yourself. Interesting history, some tragic stories, some funny stories, again beautiful views from the bastions, loads of space for the younger kids to run around, coffee shop is good with a nice choice, plenty of space and spotless. And the whole thing only €18.

    I was surprised it won best in Europe but delighted for them. Easily our best day out on our cork holiday.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 315 ✭✭kurtainsider


    bear1 wrote: »
    So it has had so far 45k people this year which from the sounds of it is more than the amount of people who went to the colosseum..
    Yeah nothing weird about that at all.

    I just did a quick google
    Colosseum - 4 million visitors a year.
    Eifel Tower - 6.9 million visitors a year.

    I don't know what the criteria is but it ain't visitor numbers


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,566 ✭✭✭✭BorneTobyWilde


    The Voting Process

    The voting process is online and a year-long communications campaign encourages global participation.

    The votes come from qualified executives working within travel and tourism and the consumer travel buyer.

    A standard vote carries a weighting of one, while votes cast by verified travel professionals carry a weighting of two. To apply for the upgrade, users are required to complete the Travel Industry Voters section on registration and submit a minimum of 10 votes. Votes are internally audited to ensure the validity of each individual vote.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 21,723 ✭✭✭✭Fred Swanson


    This post has been deleted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,786 ✭✭✭wakka12


    Im always shocked by the numbers of tourists we get in ireland. I mean it has some nice sites and its a lovely place to visit. But I cant at all see what we have over continental europe or GB. I think Scotland and England have everything you want to see here but better and more of it..nice scenery lakes pubs cute towns and historical cities and churches and castles etc
    Especially given how much it costs for north americans and asians ot travel all the way to europe in the first place. I know Id be spending my money in the mainland over ireland if I were them


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,514 ✭✭✭bee06


    So the whole thing is a fix.

    Quality rather than quantity I would say.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 21,723 ✭✭✭✭Fred Swanson


    This post has been deleted.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,971 ✭✭✭✭bear1


    wakka12 wrote: »
    Im always shocked by the numbers of tourists we get in ireland. I mean it has some nice sites and its a lovely place to visit. But I cant at all see what we have over continental europe or GB. I think Scotland and England have everything you want to see here but better and more of it..nice scenery lakes pubs cute towns and historical cities and churches and castles etc
    Especially given how much it costs for north americans and asians ot travel all the way here. I know Id be spending my money in europe over ireland

    No offence but that's a pretty ignorant post.
    Cliffs of moher, Connemara, Kerry, Killarney, Donegal, the beaches along the West coast (surfers come here from all over for the waves) book of kells, Wicklow, Achill island, cruise along the Shannon, giants causeway, island where star wars was shot, Blarney, Clonmel, Waterford, Galway, parts of Dublin, the lakes in fermanagh.
    Honestly... we've got a lot to offer.
    The only downside is the weather.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,924 ✭✭✭billie1b


    In fairness, it is lovely there. It's an island, in a harbour, on a bigger island (Ireland) which must be in many ways appealing to visitors from abroad. The view back towards Cobh from there with the massive Cathedral up on the hill is a sight to behold. Think the whole Titanic's last port of call being there plays into the whole folklore around the area for tourists as well.

    Many cruise ships dock exactly where the Titanic last set sail from. And from there it is a few minutes walk to the boat that can take you across to Spike Island, so it has a big ease of access factor too.

    The Titanic didn’t dock in the port, she was too big at the time, she docked outside the harbour and they used tenders to get the people over and back to her.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,673 ✭✭✭fergiesfolly


    Good luck to them I say.
    Brilliant re-working of what was essentially a prison for joyriders a couple of decades past.
    And a much better use of the island with its history.
    Went to the Titanic exhibition in Cobh a few years ago and it's a lovely scenic part of the world.
    The Titanic Belfast exhibition is brilliant and a huge pull for the city. Hopefully, Cork can do likewise.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,067 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    its our alcatraz


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 79 ✭✭Uosdwis R. Dewoh


    Tourists seem to love Cobh. It recently got some cruise destination accolade for the second time in a row. It does look really pretty on the surface. A lot grittier then it looks though. The whole garrison town thing. Whereas e.g. Kinsale and Clonakilty are as pretty inside and outside.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,712 ✭✭✭YFlyer


    If it's being run by Cork Co Co I wonder how long it'll stay open. They were in charge of the Gunpowder Mills in Ballincollig too and that closed after 3 yrs.
    A lot of artefacts memorabilia attached to the Gunpowder Mills is now to be found in the Spike Island Visitor Centre.

    Are there more visits compared to Cliffs of Moher?


  • Posts: 22,384 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Tourists seem to love Cobh. It recently got some cruise destination accolade for the second time in a row. It does look really pretty on the surface. A lot grittier then it looks though. The whole garrison town thing. Whereas e.g. Kinsale and Clonakilty are as pretty inside and outside.

    I love West Cork but not a huge fan of either town, they're real tourist traps, and with little in the line of scenery, sights etc. within the towns, nicely turned out but ultimately just rows of restaurants. I prefer Cobh, which has that old Victorian sea front, steep hills, the Cathedral etc. And in West Cork prefer the seaside villages, Crookhaven, Schull, Baltimore, Union Hall, Courtmac etc. Though Scallys Super Valu in Clon is one great shop.

    Hard to imagine Spike as a great tourist attraction, well worth seeing and well done, but far from the best around Cork, let alone Ireland or internationally.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,813 ✭✭✭Noveight


    YFlyer wrote: »
    Are there more visits compared to Cliffs of Moher?

    Cliffs of Moher had just under 1.5 million visits in 2016, second most visited only to the Guinness Storehouse who had 1.6 million.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,393 ✭✭✭MonkieSocks


    There was an Arms Dump there in the early 70s belonging to the Defence Forces


    Lots of Rifels, Ammo, Grenades and Mortars.

    The Government got a tip it was going to be robbed by the IRA in mid 1975.

    For the next couple of years, the place was guarded 24/7 with armed Sailors from Haulbowline Island.

    =(:-) Me? I know who I am. I'm a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude (-:)=



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,712 ✭✭✭YFlyer


    Noveight wrote: »
    Cliffs of Moher had just under 1.5 million visits in 2016, second most visited only to the Guinness Storehouse who had 1.6 million.

    More Brazilians at the Cliffs.


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