Crumlin Road Gaol Opened To Public

Northern Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie on Monday announced the re-opening of Crumlin Road Gaol for guided public tours.

Many new features have been introduced since the pilot opening last year, which attracted almost five thousand visitors. The execution cells have been restored to their original state. This will give visitors a true sense of what it was like for a prisoner facing such an awful fate. Other additions include The Reception Room, where prisoners were taken on arriving at the Gaol, along with an Exhibits Room enabling more artifacts to be displayed.

Margaret Ritchie said: "The success of the pilot has convinced me of the huge potential of the gaol as a major visitor attraction, capable of attracting thousands of visitors into North Belfast. I hope that, in turn, this will help to generate and support new businesses and jobs in an area which has for too long suffered from high levels of social and economic deprivation.

"I am therefore pleased to be able to announce that the gaol is to be re-opened for public tours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays each week, starting from this coming Friday, 13 June and running to 12 September. This will, once again, give people an opportunity to view the building and get a real sense of both its history and its future potential.

"I am keen that the local and wider communities benefit from the long term development of this part of North Belfast. I want it to serve as a major symbol of hope and economic regeneration. Nothing brings a place to life more than getting people involved. Not only do I want the public to enjoy the gaol attraction, I also intend to locate a number of DSD staff in the gaol as soon as we can get the office accommodation ready,"

School children from Malvern Primary School, Shankill and Edmund Rice Primary School, Antrim Road, participated in the launch.

Following the success of 2007 European Heritage Open Days, the period of the opening will be extended to include the 2008 European Heritage Open Days planned for 13 and 14 September 2008.

The gaol will close again for further essential repairs and restoration after the 2008 European Heritage Open Days.