IRELAND- SPIKE ISLAND FIELD SCHOOL
Website: http://www.ifrglobal.org/programs/eu/ireland-spike-island
Dates: June 29 - August 2, 2014
Project Description: This field school is part of a research project that
examines the archaeology of the 19th century prison on Spike Island, Ireland’s Alcatraz. Dealing with criminals by
means of long-term incarceration is a relatively recent development. In Ireland and Britain, long-term confinement only
became the dominant means of punishment and social control in the mid-19th
century. The architecture of many of the purpose-built prisons from this period
reflects new ideas about the redemptive nature of isolation, discipline and
work. The physical isolation of prisoners was not possible on Spike Island which was an early 19th century
fortress that was converted to a prison in 1847 at the height of the Great
Famine. The prison was tied into the global reach of the British imperial
system of power as in the early years of its operation, it was one of the main
holding centers for Irish convicts transported to Australia and to Bermuda. In the 2014 season, our principal focus will be on the convict burial
ground and the bioarchaeology of the inmates who died at Spike Island. For a short video of this program, click
here.
Syllabus: https://www.ifrglobal.us/images/Syllabus/Syllabus-Ireland%20-%20Spike%20Island.pdf
Academic Credits: Attending
students will be awarded 8 semester credit units (equivalent to 12 quarter
units) through Connecticut College.
Total Cost: $ 5,250
Accommodations: Field
School accommodation will be in the
fort on Spike Island.
Spike is a small, uninhabited island in Cork
Harbor. While there is no resident
population on the island, it is not an isolated place: it is only 500m from
land in one direction and 1500m across the harbor from the town of Cobh. From 1985 to 2004, Spike Island housed a modern prison and we will be
housed in the administration block of this jail (do a Google maps search for Spike Island, Cork: our accommodation is on the upper floor
of the rectangular block in the lower right corner of the fort). The island
does not have a resident population so we will be the only people there at
night.
Meals: All meals
will be communal events at the project dining area. Meals will be catered to the island from mainland
restaurants/caterer. All meals are provided from Monday to Friday and students
look after their own meals at weekends. Specialized diets (vegan, kosher, gluten-free, etc.) may be impossible
to satisfy in this location.
Travel
Information: Students
should arrive to the rendezvous point in Cobh
by June 29 at 4:00pm.
We will meet at the Commodore Hotel
which is on the seafront and a five minute walk from the railway station
(Commodore Hotel, Westbourne
Place, Cobh).
Cobh is served
by a range of public transportation from Cork and Dublin. Directions and travel information will be issued to all
enrolled students.
If you missed your connection or your flight is
delayed, please call, text or email to the project director. Local cell phone numbers and other emergency
contact information will be provided to all enrolled students.
Visa Requirements:
US Citizens do
not need a visa for tourist or business stays of up to three month in Ireland.
Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of
your stay. For more information, please visit the US State Department
Travel Advice page.
Health: For specific information
regarding travel health issues pertinent to travel in Ireland,
consult with the Centers for Disease
Control website.
Project Directors and Contact Information: Dr. Barra O’Donnabhain, University College Cork, Ireland
(barraod@ucc.ie)
Apply
Now: http://www.ifrglobal.org/apply
