by Chad Alan

"Touched By the Dead: Ireland"

 

Roe Valley Hospital - Limavady, Northern Ireland

 

The Roe Valley Hospital was established as a hospital in 1936 after it was used as a union workhouse.  The union work house was in service from 1842 until 1932 and was the absolute last resort for work for families that had no money and those victims of the famine.  The people were treated so badly and the conditions were so horrendous that 10 people a week dying was not uncommon. A woman named Dr. Robertson established the hospital and nurses say that when someone dies Dr. Robertson is seen and some believe she is guiding the deceased to the next place.  Footsteps and strange noises are also heard and a few people have reported being pushed.  Another apparition of a "nurse with no face" tends to appear in the women's quarters.   One final interesting item is a person experiencing and photographing a red mass that resembled a woman outside the building in the yard. GHI had the photo and would do their best to come up with an explanation.

 

Barry Fitzgerald and Paul Bradford headed to the bridge area to try and debunk the red fire mass seen in the photo.  They tried using various light sources and took pictures of one of them walking along the path to see if they could reproduce the glare.  One photo seemed pretty close to the original photo but it was a small shadow that went past Paul that really got their attention. Even after hearing the footsteps, they could not see anyone around them. They headed to the kitchen where an apparition of a lady wearing a bonnet was seen by a hospital worker.  As Barry was asking questions Paul had his hand grabbed.  They hoped the contact would continue but they were left only guessing what had just happened.

 

Kris Williams and Susan Slaughter headed to the women's dormitory and laid out various pieces of technical ghost hunting equipment. As they began their EVP session they heard a couple of knocks and it was at this time that Joe Chin mentioned seeing something being tracked in the video recorder they had set up.  They left the room with equipment running in case anything else decided to try and communicate.

 

Joe Chin and Scott Tepperman headed to the maternity ward to check out the claims of shadows and babies crying.  The babies crying possibly a case of a residual haunting.  As they started their EVP sessions Scott was the next person to feel something touch him, this time on his back.  This was followed by a few sounds that did sound like there was a baby in the room. 

 

During the review of the evidence Barry did admit that they could not reproduce the photo of the red mass of a person and it would go unsolved.   They didn't have enough actual evidence to call the hospital haunted but tell that to those experiencing the paranormal activity.

 

Spike Island - Cork Harbour, Ireland

 

Serving as many things, the island now houses what is left of a fortress/prison built to defend against the French during the Revolution.  Violent prisoners got the honor of being held captive in the moss covered stone walled buildings.  But the buildings were never really suppose to be used as a prison and it became an easy target for a riot and was heavily damaged and never repaired.  Apparitions of soldiers have been reported along with hearing loud marching footsteps.  John Mitchell was one of the more famous prisoners and his former cell has had reports of a white mist floating in the air.  The final major report is that of the mythological "Banshee" spirit.  The Banshee makes a crying noise and, once heard, a death will occur. 

 

Scott and Joe headed to a building called "Mitchell Hall."  Footsteps caught their attention and, right after this, Joe was touched on his wrist.  They both then reported seeing a human like shadow walk into the room and then dissipate.  Although they tried to further communicate with this shadow, it went away for good.

 

Kris and Barry tried their luck in getting the Banshee to show itself, which usually isn't a very good idea in the first place.  Some strange noises back towards one of the buildings grabbed their attention but nothing else happened after that. 

 

The team did catch a recording of a women's voice saying "Come in" during one of their EVP sessions so apparently they were welcomed.  Another EVP from the cell block again saying "Come in" was recorded but this time it was a man's voice.  One video clip caught an interesting ball of energy forming in a corner of a room where apparitions have been seen.  Another video clip again showed something coming into focus and then jetting off the camera's view.   The team did believe Spike Island has spirits and that the island is haunted.

 

 

Ghost Hunters International airs Wednesdays at 9/7c on Syfy.  HD channels offer different times for the show so be sure to set your DVR correctly.

 

(Image courtesy of Syfy)

 

 

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Contact Chad Alan at [email protected]