Wicklow Gaol 2012

wexydexy

just wondering would anyone recommend a work night out to wicklow gaol. thinking of organising something. i was looking at their website and they have a couple of tours. can anyone give me any feedback on the night tours and the paranormal investigation tour. oh and ha anyone had dinner in it

Riamfada

I brought a group of archaeologists there once for a night tour and dinner. It was great crack. The paranormal end of it was very corny but everyone enjoyed it puls the food wasn't too bad. I'm not sure what the price is now but I would recommend it.

spoofilyj

Was down there a few years ago for a work night, the tour was good and they have challanges that you can break up into groups and compete against each other, the pub afterwards nearbyu was great too...

A Work night out , i would say a great place.

Paramad

You'll find no Ghosts there , only an eccentric medium whose so called "powers" are constantly under scrutiny in a negative light . The Gaol itself isn't even the original Gaol .

screamer

Going there on Saturday night, but not for dinner and drinks going for a paranormal investigation night.... we will see what happens.....

MrMojoRisin

Paramad wrote: »

You'll find no Ghosts there , only an eccentric medium whose so called "powers" are constantly under scrutiny in a negative light . The Gaol itself isn't even the original Gaol .

I think I've mentioned this on here before, but my cousin and her friends were up there a good while back and, the morning afterwards, my cousin said she was complaining about how the place wasn't active/haunted at all. The others were saying they saw a red light and a tall black shadow of a man in a doorway. I think there were about 7 other people in that cell with them as well who were screeching about seeing the light and shadow too, but my cousin said she couldn't see/sense anything.

One thing they agreed on - touching on your point, Paramad - was that they weren't too enamoured with the mediumship side of things during the investigation..

Anyway, later that day, my cousin listened back to a dictaphone recording she made on the night and, after about an hour of hearing nothing remarkable, there was suddenly a man shouting for help. According to her and the others, there wasn't any man who suddenly shouted for help in any of the cells with them during the night. She said she would definitely have remembered something as notable as that.

I heard her recording and there's an echo from the shout, suggesting it comes from within the cell, and another thing is that you can't hear anyone remarking on the shout when it happens. They just carry on talking as if nothing was said. It was very strange, tbh.

I suppose it'd be worth trying out the overnight investigation and focusing hard on your own perceptions throughout, independent of the usual over-excitable types.

screamer

Have to admit, I am not over-enamoured with the idea of going, I didn't book it, but had it sprung on me last minute. I have had a few experiences, I'm not going into them now for fear of being called a looney, I will be delighted if I see, hear and experience nothing, but I do believe in a spirit world of some kind or other, so we shall see, However, I look at photos, and I can never see the face in the photo, or the shadow that everyone else can see, but I can sense things other people don't and I usually say nothing cause I don't like to scare people.

MrMojoRisin

screamer wrote: »

Have to admit, I am not over-enamoured with the idea of going, I didn't book it, but had it sprung on me last minute. I have had a few experiences, I'm not going into them now for fear of being called a looney, I will be delighted if I see, hear and experience nothing, but I do believe in a spirit world of some kind or other, so we shall see, However, I look at photos, and I can never see the face in the photo, or the shadow that everyone else can see, but I can sense things other people don't and I usually say nothing cause I don't like to scare people.

If your experiences concern a ghost/ghosts, you can always post about them in the 'Ghosts- What are your experiences?' thread: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054896242 That thread tends to be an abuse-free zone. It's just somewhere where people's ghostly experiences can be added for providence sake.

BTW, I also believe there's some spirit world of some kind in existence - or maybe just parallel worlds - but I'm not aware of it every single day. I can't say I ever notice anything (otherworldly) that others don't while I'm talking to them or whatever. Probably because I tend to focus fully on the other person and what they're saying. Your own experiences seem very interesting though.

You should head along to the jail for the craic and just be open to what could, or could not, happen. The main 'opportunities' for possibly experiencing something will probably be inside the cells, where they all sit down in darkness.

Let us know how it goes and if you experienced anything interesting.

screamer

Well, I shall post here what I experienced, not very much TBH, the medium was not there, that was good, I'm not into mumbo jumbo, there were a group who claimed to be mediums on the tour, but TBH, I just felt it was hysteria and nothing more. I felt no presences, no bad vibes, just nothing, exactly what I'd expect, as what sort of a spirit would want to hang around in such a place? Anyways, as I said, table tipping, medium visions, glass moving yada yada, subliminal messaging to me. I did some EMF stuff, and I was talking in Irish, and there seemed to be more interaction than when talking English, that was interesting. I did feel cold blasts, but sure it's an old prison, you're sitting on the floor, the granite floor. We heard some footsteps and scratching, but not knowing where the other groups were located, it was not possible to say these were paranormal. I did think I saw a green light, but then, the meter was on the floor and it could just have been the light bouncing around my eyes. I saw no shadows, heard no moans or groans, felt no menacing spirit, and was really annoyed with some of the guests, ruining the science of the whole thing with over exhuberant show boating which I did not swallow for a second. All in all, very interesting, would I go again? yes, but not to the gaol, there are no spirits there, it's a lovely old stone building, with a fascinating past, and I hope, a good future ahead of it.

MrMojoRisin

I was forwarded the following email from the jail today..

Wicklow’s Historic Gaol to Feature on TG4 this Sunday evening

Ireland’s most famous Gaol takes to the national airwaves once again. Yes, this Sunday evening Wicklow’s Historic Gaol will be brodcast to the nation in an historic documentary on TG4 at 10pm.
The programme goes to the home of Fair City actor,Eamon Morrissey, in AUGHAVANNAGH and explores the history of who lived there. The story leads to Wicklow Gaol as we learn of the ferocious Irish rebels who fought and died for the land.
The 12-part HD series - "Cé a "Chónaigh i mo Theachsa?"/"Who Lived in my House?" - has started on TG4.
Make sure to tune in to TG4 this Sunday evening to see Wicklow Town put on the map once again.

Given that the documentary will be in Irish (with English subtitles, I assume), that may limit its audience somewhat.

I can't believe there's a place called Aughavannagh. Imagine the problems that presents when giving your address for various reasons, ha, ha.

MrMojoRisin

screamer wrote: »

Well, I shall post here what I experienced, not very much TBH, the medium was not there, that was good, I'm not into mumbo jumbo, there were a group who claimed to be mediums on the tour, but TBH, I just felt it was hysteria and nothing more.

So they had other mediums instead of the usual ones? The hysteria must be very off-putting alright. When I took a ghost tour in Edinburgh before, there was none of that carry-on. One fella said he didn't feel right at all inside one of the underground tunnels at one point, but he was just calmly led outside and the tour continued without fuss.

screamer wrote: »

I felt no presences, no bad vibes, just nothing, exactly what I'd expect, as what sort of a spirit would want to hang around in such a place? Anyways, as I said, table tipping, medium visions, glass moving yada yada, subliminal messaging to me. I did some EMF stuff, and I was talking in Irish, and there seemed to be more interaction than when talking English, that was interesting.

I'm not a fan of table tipping, using a glass or pendulum, etc, at all. They're perfect opportunities for the human hand to intercede. That's all.

screamer wrote: »

I did feel cold blasts, but sure it's an old prison, you're sitting on the floor, the granite floor. We heard some footsteps and scratching, but not knowing where the other groups were located, it was not possible to say these were paranormal. I did think I saw a green light, but then, the meter was on the floor and it could just have been the light bouncing around my eyes. I saw no shadows, heard no moans or groans, felt no menacing spirit, and was really annoyed with some of the guests, ruining the science of the whole thing with over exhuberant show boating which I did not swallow for a second.

Yeah, my cousin was complaining about the other people partaking in the investigation, saying they were over-reacting to minor things, making too much noise, and incapable of keeping their mouths shut and remaining still while they were inside the cells. She also felt a couple of them - not the screeching types - were exaggerating about seeing/sensing ghosts just to seem 'more adept' or 'important' to everyone else.

They said they also felt a bit threatened by a couple of lads from a group because one of them was sneakily taking photos of one of the girls without her consent. They also thought they might be trying to pick pockets because they noticed how they were standing too close to both themselves and others, yet those lads suddenly turned away when they would turn around to look at them.

Whatever about the over-excitable people, it sounds like the investigations attract some very immature and even dodgy types.

screamer wrote: »

All in all, very interesting, would I go again? yes, but not to the gaol, there are no spirits there, it's a lovely old stone building, with a fascinating past, and I hope, a good future ahead of it.

Personally, I'd go to the jail for a day tour or something non-paranormal-related. Just to learn more about the history.

Riamfada

I spent a weekend in one of the cells living as an inmate. It was fecking cold but my "cellmate" was panicking all night hearing noises outside of the cell. IMO you can only really get a feel for a haunted location if you spend a few nights alone in it.

Great place to visit and spend some time. Ill include a photo as proof. Im one of those guys. The photo was taken at 4am by candlelight and it was very creepy.

storker

Paramad wrote: »

You'll find no Ghosts there , only an eccentric medium whose so called "powers" are constantly under scrutiny in a negative light . The Gaol itself isn't even the original Gaol .

It isn't? In that case where is/was the original? And when was the current "Gaol" built?

Stork

gcgirl

I would be inclined to wonder where the goal was originally too?

Riamfada

gcgirl wrote: »

I would be inclined to wonder where the goal was originally too?

The "original" gaol was located where the carpark is. In the 19th century an extension was added to the gaol which is the current structure. The earlier gaol was demolished. The current structure is still "original" for the most part. The front facade has been reconstructed.

gcgirl

Ah makes sense now 19 century was a bit before my time, I can remember back when the eastern health board had the prefabs in what would now be the car park, prior to glenside road being constructed

MeadhbhL3

Has anyone else been to a paranormal night at the gaol with Irish Ghost Hunters?

maccored

I havent. Wicklow Gaol have moved to the make money from para-entertainment scene these days.

Riamfada

I havnt been to it since Irish Ghost Hunters took over

MeadhbhL3

We're not that bad you know :P

Gavingaz12

I went to see irishghodthunters in the goal and they where great . then i joined them . its a great night not to be missed . plenty of food and coffee foyer the whole night and plenty if paranormal

Gavingaz12

The old goal needs money to Pay for repairs and the upkeep etc . Its a great night not to be missed well worth the money .

Riamfada

Ok cool. Is all of the activity that is detected on the night believed to be genuinely paranormal by the investigators or is some of it fabricated for entertainment? How much do yiz get paid

Gavingaz12

Its all real . if you get paranormal its there .if you don't you keep trying different areas to you find it .

screamer

I don't think that the IGH team get paid, they are genuinely into it for itself and not reward, the night I was there, there were only techies there and that was best. BUT, I thought there were more than a few p!ss takers among the public, it was funny how there was a hive of activity in one room, (with the "psychic" members of the public), and when we went there as complete skeptics, but with open minds, the activity stopped, the game was up! I think they should run nights for members of the public those who believe themselves to be psychics, so they can out bullsh!t each other, and convince others with suggestion..... and then run seperate nights for those of us who are not into the mubo jumbo bump in the dark stuff, and advertise it as such. I'd go again, but not with members of the public who believe they are psychics, who, to be honest, were more like a theatrical group than anything. I want proof, real proof, not bullsh!t.

Gavingaz12

Its great night all real . most of Irishghosthunters are not mediums . there just like you looking for paranormal . most of the time we do get paranormal and its a good night . well worth doing .the old goal in wicklow is haunted and we know it so well .we know where the activity is and we always show the public what we find and they join in .overall its brilliant and i love it so.joining irishghosthunters was the best thing i have ever done.

Gavingaz12

Its great night all real . most of Irishghosthunters are not mediums . there just like you looking for paranormal . most of the time we do get paranormal and its a good night . well worth doing .the old goal in wicklow is haunted and we know it so well .we know where the activity is and we always show the public what we find and they join in .overall its brilliant and i love it so.joining irishghosthunters was the best thing i have ever done.

Riamfada

How much do you get paid for giving the tours?

MeadhbhL3

Riamfada wrote: »

How much do you get paid for giving the tours?

It depends on the amount of people who come on the night. I'm not a medium and wearing glasses means my senses are already limited but I focus a lot on the technical aspect, I love the K2 meter and my dictaphone and my camera. But I agree about some members of the public taking the p*** and stuff. To be fair, most of these groups come for a good night out and to have a laugh. If nothing happens they get bored but theres nothing we can do about that, luck of the draw really but we would never under any circumstance fake anything!

Gavingaz12

Money goes to the upkeep of the jail... money left over goes towards paranormal equipment which is not cheap cameras . video etc . and petrol money for members who have to travel great distance to the jail

Riamfada

Cool. The reason I am asking is that I used to give a few paranormal tours in the gaol myself a while back, it wasn't for me. Nothing like an archaeologist to bore the pants off a group of GhostHunters.

Have stayed overnight in the gaol many times. Good place.

Gavingaz12

You stayed over night cool . you should come along to the next public investigation you might enjoy it . you from the town .

Riamfada

Gavingaz12 wrote: »

You stayed over night cool . you should come along to the next public investigation you might enjoy it . you from the town .

No I was a member of a paranormal group for years. Investigated Wicklow gaol many times. It's a nice place to do. I've been to a few of the nights there with EastCoast FM when Angie and Keith led the events and they were a lot of fun.

Last time I was there was for an archaeology tv show. We got to spend the weekend.

Lima Alpha One

Have done quite a few overnights in the Gaol and it is definately haunted. Had many great paranormal experiences there.

Haven't been on an overnight since IGH took over though.

Other thing that used to annoy me was the Gaol website clearly states that persons under the influence of alcohol won't be admitted on tours. On almost every occasion that I was there, you could smell booze off some people and even witnessed someone sneaking a few swigs from a bottle in one of the cells.

Also, would prefer if they had specific nights for paranormal bods and other nights for members of the public looking for a laugh.

Lima Alpha One

Gavingaz12 wrote: »

Money goes to the upkeep of the jail... money left over goes towards paranormal equipment which is not cheap cameras . video etc . and petrol money for members who have to travel great distance to the jail

Just curious but the IGH website states that you 'never charge for investigations'. Yet here you state that you get some of the money from the overnights in the Gaol.

Surely a bit of a contradiction?

Gavingaz12

I understand what your saying . look for me on Facebook Irishghosthunters . might be able yo bring you on a investigation if your interested

Gavingaz12

Yes but we have hire out the jail. food and drink . we travel all over Ireland private houses pay for our own petrol etc and we don't charge people for our help .

Lima Alpha One

Gavingaz12 wrote: »

Yes but we have hire out the jail. food and drink . we travel all over Ireland private houses pay for our own petrol etc and we don't charge people for our help .

Ah ok, wasn't sure of the setup with the overnights in the Gaol. Somehow had figured that the Gaol paid IGH to do the overnights rather than the other way around.:)

IGH are a good team in my mind and have done a lot to highlight paranormal activity in Ireland.

Fair play on the free investigations. Know where you're coming from.

maccored

I really dont get the popularity of the K2. Its alright maybe as a trigger device, but thats about it.

MeadhbhL3 wrote: »

It depends on the amount of people who come on the night. I'm not a medium and wearing glasses means my senses are already limited but I focus a lot on the technical aspect, I love the K2 meter and my dictaphone and my camera. But I agree about some members of the public taking the p*** and stuff. To be fair, most of these groups come for a good night out and to have a laugh. If nothing happens they get bored but theres nothing we can do about that, luck of the draw really but we would never under any circumstance fake anything!

Lima Alpha One

Gavingaz12 wrote: »

I understand what your saying . look for me on Facebook Irishghosthunters . might be able yo bring you on a investigation if your interested

Yeah, will do and thanks.

Already in a group that I think you might have been a member of.

Lima Alpha One

Lima Alpha One wrote: »

IGH are a good team in my mind and have done a lot to highlight paranormal activity in Ireland.

What activity did they highlight ?

Lima Alpha One

Deleted User wrote: »

What activity did they highlight ?

Well if you look at their website or youtube vids you will get an idea.

Their also do a lot of radio and tv appearances which help people appreciate Irish based paranormal activity.

Gavingaz12

Thanks mate . take care

Lima Alpha One

Lima Alpha One wrote: »

Well if you look at their website or youtube vids you will get an idea.

Their also do a lot of radio and tv appearances which help people appreciate Irish based paranormal activity.

But what is the paranormal activity they promote and can this activity be confused with any other type of activity ?

screamer

Well, for me, the only activity I saw that night was hysteria from a bunch of people who were guests on the tour there that night, who were "mediums", they had "all the activity going on", but when we went there, and their glass on the table, I could feel the person beside me pushing it- one of the so-called mediums I may add.... total and utter hysteria, which, of course, would be very easy to be taken in by, if you were desperate to experience something. We were so bored with the ghost stories, and so at ease in the gaol, that we actually sat on the floor and dosed off.....Personally, I'd rather a ghost come and frighten the bejaysus out of me, then, and only then will I believe. I experienced nothing there, I'm sure awful things happened to people unlucky enough to be put into that gaol, but why anyone would want to hang around it for eternity is beyond me, I'd be off to ghosty barbados! .

The only thing i have seen there which i cannot class as paranormal was hearing what sounded like footsteps .

screamer

yes, I heard footsteps too, but, it's not the biggest place in the world, sound resonates and travels easily in it due to the stone walls and floors, and not knowing where the other teams are, it could be anyone walking around, not just a ghost... so, if I cannot categorically say that there is no rational explanation for it, it's not paranormal.

Lima Alpha One

Deleted User wrote: »

But what is the paranormal activity they promote and can this activity be confused with any other type of activity ?

Not sure what you mean to be honest. One of the IGH members here can probably answer your question better than I can, but here's my ten cents.....

They carry out private investigations, investigations in high profile buildings e.g. Connolly Station, and then the investigations in the Gaol.

Doubt many other, if any other, paranormal groups would have gained access to do an investigation in Connolly Station. They got it because they are the most high profile paranormal group in Ireland.

As regards the Gaol, I don't agree with the way the investigations are done at the moment and would much rather certain nights be allocated to genuine paranormal enthusiasts instead of the circus nights that currently exist. By all means, still have nights where people want to treat it as a party, thrill or piss take if the Gaol needs the money that much, but I reckon a lot more genuine paranormal enthusiasts would do the overnights if they weren't surrounded by the circus atmosphere that you get on some overnight investigations in the Gaol. But I doubt IGH have much say in the matter.

As regards the Gaol, I've had plenty of experiences there that I would class as paranormal, but I guess everyone's experience of it is different. It's haunted as far as I'm concerned.

I have no connection to IGH by the way.

MeadhbhL3

Deleted User wrote: »

But what is the paranormal activity they promote and can this activity be confused with any other type of activity ?

Ok, I've been an IGH member for nearly two years now. First off, we don't promote paranormal activity, we promote the research of paranormal activity for our own interest and we publish it for the interest of the public and paranormal enthusiasts.
Anything we do publish has been examined thoroughly by all members of the team, many of whom have backgrounds in research. We go by the saying ''if in doubt, throw it out''. Hope this clears things up for you

MeadhbhL3

Lima Alpha One wrote: »

Not sure what you mean to be honest. One of the IGH members here can probably answer your question better than I can, but here's my ten cents.....

They carry out private investigations, investigations in high profile buildings e.g. Connolly Station, and then the investigations in the Gaol.

Doubt many other, if any other, paranormal groups would have gained access to do an investigation in Connolly Station. They got it because they are the most high profile paranormal group in Ireland.

As regards the Gaol, I don't agree with the way the investigations are done at the moment and would much rather certain nights be allocated to genuine paranormal enthusiasts instead of the circus nights that currently exist. By all means, still have nights where people want to treat it as a party, thrill or piss take if the Gaol needs the money that much, but I reckon a lot more genuine paranormal enthusiasts would do the overnights if they weren't surrounded by the circus atmosphere that you get on some overnight investigations in the Gaol. But I doubt IGH have much say in the matter.

As regards the Gaol, I've had plenty of experiences there that I would class as paranormal, but I guess everyone's experience of it is different. It's haunted as far as I'm concerned.

I have no connection to IGH by the way.

Thank you for your kind comments, hope you enjoy our Connolly webisode which will be uploaded very soon! :eek: