''Wicklow Jail''

Located in the county town of the county known generically, as 'The Garden of Ireland', this jail built in 1702, is yet another intriquing Irish prison with history, anecdotes, substance brimming from its walls, like a violinist with many strings to his bow!

It has been at the heart of events in Irish history like the 1798 rebellion of the United Irishmen, the 'Great Irish Famine', the 'holding area' for many poor souls about to be transported to Tasmania in the 'New World' for the merest misdemeanour like sheep stealing!

The period 1798/1803, saw many of Wicklow's rebel's spend time there. People like General Holt, Billy Byrne, Napper Tandy and it's also associated with the heroine Anne Devlin (Robert Emmet's noble and selfless servant, who never betrayed him!) and it's this part I'd like to talk about. Possibly two of the cells are haunted - one of which, Anne Devlin frequented when visiting her father, whilst held there after the 1798 rebellion.

It was whilst I was in this cell on a visit that, I had a very strange experience; my hand went numb and I got the feeling something like a needle was being inserted into it! Given the harrowing history of the place, the concomitant sorrow that was imbued in that cell particularly, could I have picked up on something? Perhaps Anne Devlin did knitting or embroidery when visiting the cell in the pre-1803 period?

The Jail is well worth visiting (the yard is an additional interest!) and if nothing else, be intriqued and mindful when visiting the haunted cells. Wicklow Jail is yet another doorway into Ireland's sad and heart rending history and the feature of Wicklow town!