Gaol House Shock
It was a very cold day on the morning of our Travel and Tourism trip to the Crumlin Road Gaol, but nowhere near as cold as the chills we felt inside the prison walls. We were visiting one of Belfast‘s up and coming tourist‘s attractions, even though few of us had any idea about the history of a place we‘ve seen so many times but never really taken any notice of.
The Governor‘s corridor was a very grand entrance to the Gaol but once we really got inside there was an eerie feeling. The guides told stories of murderers, hangmen and a regime that was very tough. That was nothing compared to stories of a buried body of an executed prisoner that just … disappeared! Inside the hanging cell you could see how and where the executions took place. There was a definite drop in the temperature in the cell and many of the groups felt very uncomfortable and had goose-bumps, some even refused to go in!
The Gaol is still being renovated, and the most haunted and infamous ’C‘ and ’D‘ wings will be open to the public soon.
If you are thinking of a visit be sure to book ahead as the tours are very popular. It is no surprise since it is a place where Republicans and Unionists of all ages and genders were locked up. There are some amazing stories that should be heard by all, that is, if you can hear them over the sound of chattering teeth from the cold, or could it possibly be from the fright?
