Cork County Council (CCC) has welcomed the Irish Government's decision to transfer ownership of Spike Island to the council.

The move will enable the council to go ahead with the development of the island - known as 'Ireland's Alcatraz' - as a unique tourism, heritage and recreational destination in Cork Harbour. Discussions have been continuing over a period of 12 months between CCC and officials of the Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service to secure the decision and detailed negotiations will now take place between the Department and CCC to bring about the necessary transfer of ownership.

Cork Mayor Derry Canty said: "This is a significant milestone in the unlocking of the potential of Spike Island and Cork Harbour for the future". Spike Island, originally a monastic settlement dating from the 7th century, was first used as a place of confinement during the 17th century following the end of the Cromwellian wars.

During the late 18th and first half of the 19th centuries, it was used as a prison by the British to hold prisoners to be transported to the colonies. Transportation ceased in the 1850s and the prison population grew to about 2,000. Over time it declined to about 500 and by 1883 a further decline in the overall number of prisoners led to the closure of the prison. The island remained in British hands until July 1938, when the last British troops left and the Irish flag was raised. It was transferred to the Department of Justice in 1985.