John Crotty

John Crotty is an Irish author and historian from County Waterford, a place steeped in the traditions and tales of the Déise. His lifelong passion for Irish history and heritage has taken him across over sixty countries, always drawn to the stories of place, people and identity, both Irish and global.

John has earned a reputation as a pioneering historian, conducting reassessments of the standing of Spike Island, the origin story of the Irish Tricolour and other symbols and a re-examination of Ireland's role in World War Two, exposing a defamation campaign which wrote an inaccurate history. He is the worlds foremost authority on the origin story of the Irish Tricolour and the history of Spike Island Cork.

He served as CEO of Spike Island Cork, where he led the development of its award-winning heritage offering. John is a frequent contributor to national and international media, including the Discovery Channel, RTE, Channel 5, The Irish Times and The Guardian, appearing on radio and podcasts such as The Oliver Callan Show and Today with Maura and Dáithí. His first book on Spike Island was published in 2024, with a second published work on the Irish Tricolour, Irish symbols and identity published February 2026. Further works on Ireland's role in World War Two are commenced.

John is passionate about sharing Irish history with a strong commitment to accuracy.