I'm going to tell you a story about the power of the bond between mothers and their sons - a bond more powerful than the might of the Army, Prison Officers and Police.
This tale has been told to me many times by Irish mammies (moms) in Cork. I'm happy to pass it along to you, without embellishments or hyperbole.
Picture this: it was a wild night on Spike Island prison, located on a lonely, isolated island in Cork Harbour on the southern coast of Ireland back in August 1985. This was a night that would go down in history as one of the most audacious prison breakouts you've ever heard of. Imagine a bunch of outlaw prisoners, armed with makeshift weapons, deciding they've had enough of the island fortress and making a daring escape from their cells.
Chaos ensued as they took control of the prison, leaving prison officers scrambling for safety.
Here's where it gets truly crazy – instead of making a swim for it across the chilly Cork harbor waters, these rebellious inmates opted for a different strategy. They stormed back into the fort, set buildings ablaze, and even hotwired a JCB digger to block the entrance of the authorities.
The Gardaí (Irish police) were dispatched, but the situation was so intense that reinforcements were desperately needed. Imagine the scene: a riot raging for hours, spiraling out of control with prisoners atop the fortifications of this former Army and Naval base, and police officers struggling to maintain order.
Cork police and prison guards, hastily summoned while enjoying a night out in pubs across Co Cork, converged on the desolate, windswept Spike Island prison. This prison housed some of Ireland's wildest criminals, creating an atmosphere ripe with tension.
Amidst this tension, something remarkable happened. While the standoff ensued, a clever police detective, having exhausted all other possibilities, came up with an ingenious plan. Call in the outlaws' moms. And so it was the prisoners' mothers who stepped up to save the day.
Asked to attend the scene, these brave women used microphones to berate their sons on the prison rooftop. Their words, laden with a mother's love and disappointment, cut through the air, reaching the ears of the defiant men.
In a surprising turn of events, the power of a mother's voice proved stronger than steel bars. One by one, the prisoners, unable to bear the weight of their mothers' disappointment, chose to return to their cells. It was a testament to the deep bond between a mother and her child, transcending the chaos and restoring order to Spike Island prison that night.
34 years ago today a world famous prison riot occurred on Spike, provoked by the poor living conditions the prisoners had to endure, during which the prisoners burned down one of the buildings. pic.twitter.com/Z8SPYw2qNB
— SpikeIslandCork (@SpikeIslandCork) August 31, 2019
This incident serves as a poignant reminder of the unwavering strength of a mother's love and the lengths to which a mother will go to guide her child, even in the face of the most challenging circumstances. It's a story of resilience, love, and the remarkable ability of a mother's voice to reach the heart of even the wildest souls.
In the end, after a tense standoff, the prisoners surrendered, but not before leaving a mark. The riot led to some serious finger-pointing, highlighting the inadequate prison accommodations. It sparked change, though – the construction of proper prison cells, still visible today for visitors to see.
Happy International Women's Day to all the moms out there!
Dara Burke is a local storyteller and True. Cork. Rebel. When he's not helping guests experience the real 'Rebel City' on his Rebel City Tour of Cork, featuring local food, local drink, and exciting Rebel tales, he's creating guides of things to do in Cork. Join him on his exciting Cork walking tour to immerse yourself in real Cork culture and make the most of your time in the city.
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