Musicians visit Spike Island in Cork Harbour

Pictured left to right: Ashley Keating, Mary O Dea, Brian Garvey, Joe Kelly, Stevie G, Ken Cotter, Don O Mahony, Kieran Hurley, Tom O Neill, Freddie White, Aoife Looney, Cormac Gebruers, Pat Conway, Ian McDonagh, Sophie Johnston, John Spillane, Adrian Gebruers and Angela Dorgan.

Recently I was asked by Cork County Council to bring some musicians and people who work in the music industry to Spike Island in Cork Harbour to offer their input as to how Spike could best serve the harbour side community as a facility or tourist destination.
We went across on Tuesday 4th May and were shown around Spike by Tom O Neill. Some great ideas came out of the meeting that followed and we submitted these to the Steering Group responsible for getting the Spike project off the ground.
Spike is a really exciting prospect and it was great to have the opportunity to get some ideas from the perspective of musicians directly to the policy makers!

The official press release is below.

By the way, Stevie G was one of the visitors and he has some great photos on his blog. Check it out here
http://steviegblog.blogspot.com/

Press Release 5th May 2010

Cork Musician’s Detained on Spike Island

Last July 2009, the Government agreed to transfer Spike Island from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to Cork County Council. This provides a great opportunity to develop the tourism and heritage potential of the Island. The Spike Island Steering Committee has been mandated by the County Manager to progress the short and long term development of Spike Island.

As part of that process a series of working groups have been organised to visit the island and generate ideas on how to unlock Spike’s potential. Yesterday (4th May), people involved in the music industry in Cork got their chance to visit the island and share their ideas. Prominent musians including John Spillane, Freddie White and Ashley Keating were joined by radio DJs, local venue promoters and arts representatives.

Cork singer song-writer Ken Cotter, who helped to organise the group, said that the feedback included ideas from large concerts, to boutique style festivals, workshops and a music retreat. Stevie G from Red FM comended the visit saying ‘ to say the potential of the island for Cork is immense would be a major understatement.’ Tom O’ Neill from the Irish Prison Service, Denis Deasy from Cork County Council were also on hand to provide information and to take feedback on board.
All interested parties can have their say regarding the development of Spike Island by visiting http://www.spikeislandcork.com/