Dublin: Week 4 - Ghostbus Tour

Ghostbus Tour

Talk to any Dubliner and mention that you just did the Ghostbus tour and they will tell you that you wasted your money. Hey, but I'm a tourist and I am entitled to do as many touristy things that I WANT and how many times can you say you went on a ghostbus tour?!?! The ghostbus tour was FUN and sure wasn't a waste of my money (IMO) as I do find a fondness for such creepy and unexplainable stories. Experience alone is priceless, wouldn't you agree??? Enough of the philosophy. Fin. 

The Ghostbus tour introduces you to the dark romance of a city of gaslight ghosts and chilling legends. We passed by haunted houses, learned of Dracula's Dublin origins, learned about the Dublin's origins of the "white lady", visited the Haunted 40 Steps to Hell and even had a crash course in body-snatching. I didn't get spooked or anything unless you are one to fright easily, but our ghost guide's theatric performance is what definitely made the tour downright entertaining while being whisked away to learn about haunted Dublin areas. 

St. Kevin's Graveyard

This graveyard is considered to be most haunted in Dublin. Supposedly the ghost of Bishop Dermot O'Hurley resides in the church there. He was executed during the times it was dangerous to be a Catholic preaching. Late July is usually the time when apparitions are high. I'll be sure to update if I see any unusual figures or orbs in my photos for the paranormal fans out there.

(catholicireland.net)

"3. Bishop Dermot O'Hurley: tortured and hanged at Hoggen Green, Dublin, 20th June 1584

Dermot O'Hurley was born near Emly, Co. Tipperary, about 1530. His family were well off and as a young man Dermot went to study law at Louvain. In 1581 Pope Gregory XIII asked Dermot, still a layman, to become Archbishop of Cashel and he accepted, knowing that this appointment would make him a fugitive working in dangerous conditions. He reached Ireland in 1583, but while he was sheltering at Slane Castle he was recognised, arrested, imprisoned in Dublin Castle. Accused of plotting to overthrow the Queen's government in Ireland, he was repeatedly questioned and tortured. He persistently protested that his mission was one of peace and he had no information to give his captors.

On 20th June 1584 he was taken to Hoggen Green, near St Stephen's Green, to be hanged. Before his death he said: I am a priest anointed and also a bishop, although unworthy of so sacred dignities, and no cause could they find against me that might in the least degree deserve the pains of death, but only my function of priesthood wherein they have proceeded against me in all points contrary to their own laws. When the report of his execution spread in the city, some devout women carried his body with great respect to the Church of St Kevin (near Kevin St) where he was buried. A monument to his memory was erected there in 1992."

Body-snatching 101 in St. Kevin's Graveyard

You dig a hook in their jaw and yank the body out. If the jaw was weak, you can hook through the nose or somewhere on face yanking with all your might and stuffing in the a bag and dumping it over.

Haunted 40 Steps

During the 18th century, St. Audoen's church bordered the area of what was then known as Hell. Around the 1950's up to to 1980's there were many accounts of nuns reporting to the Gardai their encounters with leper ghosts. Dublin's most famous ghost, the Green Lady has been known to haunt the outside of the church. She is believed to be Dark Kelly, a woman bringing her unwanted offspring to St. Audoen's church. She was put to death by Simon Luttrell, Sheriff of Dublin and a member of the Hellfire Club (satanist group) believed to be the father of her child. 

Haunted 40 Steps. Eeeeeeeeeek!!!

Marisol and I (along with the brave ones) walking the haunted 40 steps to hell!!! We are scared!!!

That's me in the middle taking pictures of what was considered a portal to hell also referred to as leprosy colony back in the day. I have my sweater over my head because stupid me forgot to bring my umbrella that was in my purse back in the bus. Actually everyone left their umbrellas back there.
Those that dared not to walk the 40 Steps. 
Portal to "hell" aka "leprosy world" where you can escape and never come back. It was said criminals would commit murder and enter this zone knowing that no one will come after them since their fate has already been met once stepping inside. 

Another Interesting Thing I Learned on the Ghost Bus Tour:
The origins of the term "dead ringer". 
People would be buried with a rope leading from inside the coffin to a bell above the ground. This enabled anyone who was buried alive to ring the bell and to draw attention to the mistake. Since people would not expect to see their 'dead' loved ones again, a person resembling the deceased is a 'dead ringer'. This is also reputed to be the origin of the expression 'graveyard shift' because people from the village used to take it in turns to listen for the bell.