Ghostbusters find Ulster's best haunts
GHOST-HUNTERS have come up with a top six of Northern Ireland's most haunted buildings.
Paranormal investigators say a former jail and borstal are among the best places to spot a spectre.
One of the most spine-chilling is Woburn House in Millisle, said to be home to the ghost of a maid murdered when she was pregnant.
Now the Northern Ireland Prison Service college, it used to be a borstal and before that a summer residence for the descendants of its wealthy 19th century founder, George Gilmore Dunbarr.
Ghostbusters claim the apparition of a killer wanders its corridors, sending visitors fleeing in terror.
The top six was compiled by a team of psychics for the new BBC show: NI's Greatest Haunts.
Their other five picks of the Province's most spooky places are:
n Direct Wine Shipments in Belfast, filled with poltergeists from the Sailor Town era when this part of the docklands was busy, grimy and treacherous with robbery and murder.
n the deserted Armagh gaol, shut down in 1986. Its dark, violent history goes back to the late 18th century with reports of gaunt faces appearing at the windows of its bleak facade;
n Limavady Workhouse in Londonderry, which for good measure has two souls from its 19th century history;
n former 17th century manor Bellaghy Bawn. Bellaghy Bawn – a former 17th century manor – is one of the 12 original Ulster Plantation settlements. With many of its original features still intact, the building is steeped in history. Some say the ghosts of Bellaghy's past still resonate in the walls;
n Galgorm Castle, which lies at the heart of one of Northern Ireland's most infamous tales of witchcraft. Some say it’s still haunted 350 years after its former master paid the ultimate price and sold his soul to the devil
For the next six weeks, the paranormal team will probe each building using psychic powers and ghost-busting technology.
Investigator Andy Matthews says he’s been communicating with the spirits of the dead for 10 years, and is joined by Marion Goodfellow, one of the UK’s leading mediums.
Volunteers from the Northern Ireland Paranormal Society will join the pair to see if reported hauntings can be explained with logic before trying to tap into the spirit world.
Producer Hilary O’Donovan said: “We set out to make a series that would appeal to believers and non-believers alike.
“What we produced, I believe, is an entirely different, refreshing perspective on the history and culture of Northern Ireland.
“You may not believe in ghosts, but when you watch this series you’ll definitely understand why others do.”
The six buildings are only a few of the places in Northern Ireland attracting ghoulish reports.
Since Christmas, cars have been lining a street outside Coalisland in Tyrone to catch a glimpse of a mysterious female figure wearing a white cape.
And Mike Hirons from the Paranormal Ulster group is recording the sounds of ghosts at the Gasworks Museum in Carrickfergus and Crawfordsburn Inn near Bangor
A host of our hotels and castles are also said to host spirits.
The White Horse Hotel in Londonderry is said to be haunted by a complete mail stagecoach plus portly driver who pulls up and enters the hotel only to mysteriously disappear.
And Mussenden Temple, five miles from Coleraine on the Downhill estate, is said to have blood appear on the floor only to puzzlingly disappear within minutes.
A recent poll of more than 2,100 adults revealed 37 per cent believe in ghosts and of those, almost half have tried to make contact with the spirit world.
n NI’s Greatest Haunts begins with Armagh Gaol tonight on BBC One NI at 10.45pm.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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