Haunted History? Wake Museum Calls in Ghost Hunters
Ghost/Paranormal
Wednesday 12th, March 2025
5 minute read.
A museum in Waterford, long rumoured to be a centre for paranormal activity, has sought the assistance of ghost investigators following unsettling accounts from staff and visitors.
GhostÉire, an Irish paranormal investigation team, conducted a months long probe into mysterious occurrences reported at the Wake Museum in Cathedral Square. The investigation was prompted by multiple witnesses claiming to have seen children's reflections in the glass cabinets that house mourning jewellery.
These items, popular during the Georgian era (1714-1837), were often created to commemorate deceased loved ones, particularly young children. Many of the pieces on display contain real human hair, a keepsake from an era before the widespread availability of photography.
Museum curator Cliona Purcell stated that several individuals, including tour guides, tradespeople, and visitors, had reported unusual experiences.
“Some members of staff, particularly those who have been opening up by themselves, have seen reflections of children in the glass”, said Ms Purcell.
Historical records indicate that the Roberts family, who once lived in the building, suffered numerous child fatalities. Waterford architect John Roberts and his wife Mary had over 20 children, though only eight survived to adulthood.
Beyond the spectral reflections, other inexplicable occurrences have added to the intrigue surrounding the museum.
“There have also been other incidents that couldn’t be explained”, said Ms Purcell. “The electronics go a bit funny at times. Some of the stories come from visitors who would have considered themselves sceptics. We have even had a couple of people faint in that room. We are excited to hear about the results of Anthony’s investigation to see what he has found. We’re not really sure what to expect”.
Possible Darker Past
During their investigation, GhostÉire, led by Anthony Kerrigan, held a seance in the museum. Although they did not make contact with any ghostly children, they claim to have uncovered hints of the building's potential past use as a brothel.
According to Kerrigan, a Ouija board session spelled out the word ‘Monto’, referencing Dublin’s infamous red light district. Monto operated between 1860 and 1925 and, at its peak, employed approximately 1,600 sex workers. The district had a reputation for mistreatment of women.
“The word ‘Monto’ came up during a Ouija board session, so it’s our belief that the spirit had some connection with this place”, he said.
“A lot of people from high society would meet at Monto. Even the king of England was said to have lost his virginity there. When we asked the entity how we could recognise them, they said, ‘Dirt’.
In an attempt to gain further evidence, the team utilised modern investigative techniques, including facial recognition software.
“For the fifth experiment, we did an identity test experiment using software technology called Faces”, said Kerrigan.
Kerrigan also noted that mainstream depictions of ghosts in literature and media often do not align with real paranormal experiences.
“What’s portrayed in Shakespeare plays and the work of WB Yeats does not really reflect what we see or experience”, he said. “Cameras are no good at catching ghosts. Audio is more reliable, so paranormal investigators get better results this way.
Another common technique used to detect spirits involves monitoring environmental changes.
“Some of the things we look at during seances are draughts and changes in temperature, as this can indicate another presence in the room. And the GhostÉire team all experienced headaches during our investigations”, Kerrigan added.
While the findings remain inconclusive, the Wake Museum continues to be a site of interest for paranormal enthusiasts. With a history spanning centuries and countless reports of unexplained activity, the mystery surrounding the building remains very much alive.
GhostÉire, an Irish paranormal investigation team, conducted a months long probe into mysterious occurrences reported at the Wake Museum in Cathedral Square. The investigation was prompted by multiple witnesses claiming to have seen children's reflections in the glass cabinets that house mourning jewellery.
These items, popular during the Georgian era (1714-1837), were often created to commemorate deceased loved ones, particularly young children. Many of the pieces on display contain real human hair, a keepsake from an era before the widespread availability of photography.
Museum curator Cliona Purcell stated that several individuals, including tour guides, tradespeople, and visitors, had reported unusual experiences.
“Some members of staff, particularly those who have been opening up by themselves, have seen reflections of children in the glass”, said Ms Purcell.
“We had carpenters and stonemasons working in the building, and even they had stories, but it always seemed to come back to children”.
Historical records indicate that the Roberts family, who once lived in the building, suffered numerous child fatalities. Waterford architect John Roberts and his wife Mary had over 20 children, though only eight survived to adulthood.
Beyond the spectral reflections, other inexplicable occurrences have added to the intrigue surrounding the museum.
“There have also been other incidents that couldn’t be explained”, said Ms Purcell. “The electronics go a bit funny at times. Some of the stories come from visitors who would have considered themselves sceptics. We have even had a couple of people faint in that room. We are excited to hear about the results of Anthony’s investigation to see what he has found. We’re not really sure what to expect”.
Possible Darker Past
During their investigation, GhostÉire, led by Anthony Kerrigan, held a seance in the museum. Although they did not make contact with any ghostly children, they claim to have uncovered hints of the building's potential past use as a brothel.
According to Kerrigan, a Ouija board session spelled out the word ‘Monto’, referencing Dublin’s infamous red light district. Monto operated between 1860 and 1925 and, at its peak, employed approximately 1,600 sex workers. The district had a reputation for mistreatment of women.
“The word ‘Monto’ came up during a Ouija board session, so it’s our belief that the spirit had some connection with this place”, he said.
“A lot of people from high society would meet at Monto. Even the king of England was said to have lost his virginity there. When we asked the entity how we could recognise them, they said, ‘Dirt’.
“From what we understand, this was a woman of Asian heritage who had been beaten there. Early signs we are seeing suggest there was a matriarchal presence overseeing what was going on. This suggests to us that this may have been a madame, so it might have been a brothel at one point”
In an attempt to gain further evidence, the team utilised modern investigative techniques, including facial recognition software.
“For the fifth experiment, we did an identity test experiment using software technology called Faces”, said Kerrigan.
“It’s similar to the technology used on programmes like Crimecall and Crimewatch UK. The various features suggest that the woman we made contact with was of Asian descent. I’d be very interested to speak to someone with historical knowledge of the building who might be able to shed some light on this for us”
Kerrigan also noted that mainstream depictions of ghosts in literature and media often do not align with real paranormal experiences.
“What’s portrayed in Shakespeare plays and the work of WB Yeats does not really reflect what we see or experience”, he said. “Cameras are no good at catching ghosts. Audio is more reliable, so paranormal investigators get better results this way.
“We are talking about tapping into an alternative consciousness or dimension that we are unaware of. We’ve asked ourselves questions using models of the brain, such as what part shuts down after we die and which part carries on afterwards. There is a theory that one part of the brain never shuts down and reboots in another realm, going from the physical to the spiritual”
Another common technique used to detect spirits involves monitoring environmental changes.
“Some of the things we look at during seances are draughts and changes in temperature, as this can indicate another presence in the room. And the GhostÉire team all experienced headaches during our investigations”, Kerrigan added.
While the findings remain inconclusive, the Wake Museum continues to be a site of interest for paranormal enthusiasts. With a history spanning centuries and countless reports of unexplained activity, the mystery surrounding the building remains very much alive.
