Page 123 - GAHS Journal Volume 9

GREYSTONES ARCHAEOLOGICAL & HISTORICAL SOCIETY JOURNAL VOLUME 9

enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff here left us with a vivid
impression of the pioneering significance of Nagle’s work, and
the extent to which the establishment which she founded
remains a centre for both the local and the wider community.

Our next outing, unfortunately, turned out to be something of
a contrast. Having decided to choose Cork as this year’s
destination, there was general agreement that Spike Island had
to be on our programme – it had, after all, been the winner of a
couple of high-profile tourist industry awards last year and hopes
were high for an entertaining and illuminating afternoon. Having
travelled out to Cobh, we took the ferry over and were met on
the quayside by our guide. It was cold, we were hungry, the walk
uphill to the barracks itself was longer than expected, and we
were in no mood for our guide’s lengthy dissertation on infant
candidate for sainthood, Nellie Organ, whose family home was
on our route.

After lunch, efficiently and pleasantly served in what had
been the prison gymnasium, we managed to locate our guide for

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