Crumlin Road Gaol
Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Crumlin Road Gaol – aka “The Crum” - was a fully operational prison from 1846 -1996.
During those 150 years the Gaol housed murderers, suffragettes and both loyalist and republican prisoners. It has witnessed births, deaths, marriages and has been the home to executions (hangings), escapes, hunger-strikes and riots.
Travel memory:
Before leaving Canada friends Michael & Rosaleen Quinn recommended this visit. Michael shared that during Northern Ireland's “troubles” (the decades of unrest, violence, retaliation and hatred between the Republicans and Loyalists, the terrorist groups from both sides and the British army) many people Michael knew were kept there.
This included many individuals who were merely considered “suspicious” and were help simply on remand for months, never ever even charged.
Some of Michael's friends and relatives were among them. He said, “Get a picture of A wing for me!”
However, I forgot the letter and by mistake took a picture of C Wing – where typically only the loyalist and not his relatives – republicans - would have spent time.
Sigh.
However, while the prison tried to keep both sides apart and Wing C was usually reserved for loyalists – on occasion when there was an “over flow” both sides were housed together – so I wasn't completely off track. (I am trying to save face here, in fact and in truth, I was off track.)
Interesting fact:
The guide said it was not uncommon for former inmates who had been held in remand in the 1970s to come and visit and actually go on his tour. Value added for whomever were on those tours I would think!
In addition, the tour included looking into rooms set up to demonstrate different eras of its prison life and inhabitants.
The guide shared that in some cases people during the years of the famine would commit crimes just so they could be incarcerated. That way, at least, they would be fed.
Travel memory:
It was at this location that I learned a new feature on my new little 'point & shoot' digital camera, although initially it was most alarming - and I had, for a period of a good 10 minutes - thought perhaps I had somehow been infected with the "curse of the camera of Sharon". In other words, it did some weird things and I had no idea what I had done to make it do it....
In this location I had it on "intelligent eye" - so it would do whatever it needed to do in the circumstances. When I first took some pictures here it snapped about 10 - 15 in rapid succession BUT it only had one picture retained on the memory card.
???
I was disconcerted to say the least. In addition, I was having to stand and hold the button down for a second or two, reminiscent of Sharon's delayed pictures (although thankfully my camera wasn't beeping when it did this).
Then I read its instructions, flashing for me.... it was a feature for "hand held camera - night settings" - i.e. pictures taken in dim light without it requiring being on some sort of tripod. In other words, it took many pictures (as people holding cameras may not necessary hold it steady) and then merged all the images into the best final one shot. Worked like a charm!
Very cool - and not a feature I had had on my older camera.
Crumlin Road Gaol – aka “The Crum” - was a fully operational prison from 1846 -1996.
During those 150 years the Gaol housed murderers, suffragettes and both loyalist and republican prisoners. It has witnessed births, deaths, marriages and has been the home to executions (hangings), escapes, hunger-strikes and riots.
Travel memory:
Before leaving Canada friends Michael & Rosaleen Quinn recommended this visit. Michael shared that during Northern Ireland's “troubles” (the decades of unrest, violence, retaliation and hatred between the Republicans and Loyalists, the terrorist groups from both sides and the British army) many people Michael knew were kept there.
This included many individuals who were merely considered “suspicious” and were help simply on remand for months, never ever even charged.
Some of Michael's friends and relatives were among them. He said, “Get a picture of A wing for me!”
However, I forgot the letter and by mistake took a picture of C Wing – where typically only the loyalist and not his relatives – republicans - would have spent time.
Sigh.
However, while the prison tried to keep both sides apart and Wing C was usually reserved for loyalists – on occasion when there was an “over flow” both sides were housed together – so I wasn't completely off track. (I am trying to save face here, in fact and in truth, I was off track.)
Interesting fact:
The guide said it was not uncommon for former inmates who had been held in remand in the 1970s to come and visit and actually go on his tour. Value added for whomever were on those tours I would think!
In addition, the tour included looking into rooms set up to demonstrate different eras of its prison life and inhabitants.
The guide shared that in some cases people during the years of the famine would commit crimes just so they could be incarcerated. That way, at least, they would be fed.
Travel memory:
It was at this location that I learned a new feature on my new little 'point & shoot' digital camera, although initially it was most alarming - and I had, for a period of a good 10 minutes - thought perhaps I had somehow been infected with the "curse of the camera of Sharon". In other words, it did some weird things and I had no idea what I had done to make it do it....
In this location I had it on "intelligent eye" - so it would do whatever it needed to do in the circumstances. When I first took some pictures here it snapped about 10 - 15 in rapid succession BUT it only had one picture retained on the memory card.
???
I was disconcerted to say the least. In addition, I was having to stand and hold the button down for a second or two, reminiscent of Sharon's delayed pictures (although thankfully my camera wasn't beeping when it did this).
Then I read its instructions, flashing for me.... it was a feature for "hand held camera - night settings" - i.e. pictures taken in dim light without it requiring being on some sort of tripod. In other words, it took many pictures (as people holding cameras may not necessary hold it steady) and then merged all the images into the best final one shot. Worked like a charm!
Very cool - and not a feature I had had on my older camera.