We ain't afraid of no ghosts. So said our reporters before they took up their latest assignment - to investigate possible paranormal activity in Derry. They chose the Workshouse Museum in the Waterside of the city to begin what they thought would be a merry and carefree hunt - but things didn't go exactly as planned...
| As we walked up those steps from the foyer we shivered, but not from fear, from nerves! |
One Thursday a few weeks back Rhonda and myself spent the evening in the Workhouse museum to explore the myth that ghosts could exist in such a place. Fortunately or UNfortunately should I say we believe we met a resident of the northwest’s former workhouse.
As we walked up those steps from the foyer we shivered, but not from fear, from nerves! We didn’t know what to expect but something told us it would not be good.
We walked down the long corridor, where people have claimed to have seen a little boy running up and down, and as soon as we reached the end we had already felt a number of emotions. We felt sad, cold, uncomfortable, damp, disturbed and unwanted. We smelt musty-like aromas that seemed to move from one place to another, but we had come this far and we decided to move on to the war memorial. What a mistake!
As we entered the grey room we felt better, but as we stood there describing our feelings to each other Rhonda froze. She stood there looking at one supposedly empty space until she broke into tears. I asked what was wrong but she just described an old, ragged man that was looking in our direction. As soon as we were finished we went to James Coyle, a guide at the museum, to ask him about this man.
We were told of many occasions where a man has been spotted in the area, which is really weird especially as this is the women’s wing of the sleeping dormitories. James believes that this man was possibly some sort of outsider to the workhouse, as he was also dressed in a different manner from the uniform of the day.
After that nothing really happened, except the odd footstep or rattle, so we decided to call it a night and leave these people to wonder around their homes for eternity. Before our experience we were sceptical as to whether ghosts could really exist. Now we are pretty convinced they do. What do you believe?
About the team
This story was produced by Chidrens Express Foyle reporters Rhonda Hogg, 15, and Niall Bradley, 14. It was published by Derry News.
