This Halloween season, National Geographic is set to captivate viewers with a new six-part series, ‘Witches: Truth Behind the Trials,’ airing on 30 October. With guidance from Dr. Andrew Sneddon, Senior Lecturer in International History at Ulster University, the series reveals the chilling realities behind history's most infamous witch trials.
Through cinematic recreations and expert interviews, ‘Witches: Truth Behind the Trials’ uncovers the dark truth behind six haunting witch trials in Germany, Scotland, England, America, Sweden, and Ireland.
The final episode, episode 6 airing on 4 December spotlights Dr. Sneddon's book, ‘Possessed by the Devil: The History of the Islandmagee Witch Trials 1711,’ a gripping account of eight women in County Antrim who were put on trial accused of orchestrating the demonic possession of young Mary Dunbar, and the haunting and supernatural murder of a local clergyman's wife.
Dr. Sneddon’s interesting research, first published in 2013, was the first in-depth historical study of the Islandmagee witch trial. His work brought international attention to this overlooked chapter in Irish history, shedding light on the 'witch craze' that claimed over 50,000 lives in Europe played out on Irish shores.
Dr. Andrew Sneddon, Senior Lecturer in International History at Ulster University prepares to launch a second edition of his book this November, talks of his specfic research on witch trials:
“The trial of the Islandmagee witches in County Antrim in 1711 was Ireland’s last, and only mass prosecution. It tells the story of an eighteen-year old woman who turned a community upside down looking for witches she claimed had bewitched her body and caused a household to be overrun with demons. It is a tale of murder, poltergeists, shape-shifting witches, magical healing, and demonic possession.
“With Echoes of the Salem trials, it describes a Scottish community under siege in a time of religious persecution, war and want. For a community that lived in a universe teeming with good and evil spirts, it was a very dangerous time.”
Reimagining the Islandmagee witches Interactive Exhibition
Ulster University has partnered with Carrickfergus Museum (Mid and East Antrim Borough Council) to present a permanent hub focused on ‘Reimagining the Islandmagee Witches: An Interactive Exhibition,’ allowing visitors to step back in time to 1711 and ‘hex’perience the history of Ireland’s last witch trial.
This project led by Dr Andrew Sneddon and Dr Victoria McCollum presents Ulster University research on the Islandmagee witch trial as visitors will have the opportunity to time travel using immersive technology to grasp a deeper understanding of the events that took place, over 300 years ago. It features the research and expertise of Brian Coyle, Dr Helen Jackson, Dr Adam Melvin, Sabrina Minter and Shirin Murphy.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Beth Adger MBE, said:
“We are delighted to see this project have a permanent home at Carrickfergus Museum. The Council’s Museum Team have been working closely with a multi-disciplinary team from Ulster University for some time on this exciting new initiative which aims to showcase the story of the trial of the ‘Islandmagee Witches’ in Carrickfergus in 1711.”
Visitors to Carrickfergus Museum will be able to freely access some of the outputs from the project including:
Examinations and Depositions taken in the Co. Antrim Respecting Witches, these statements were taken before the trial, in early March 1711, from key witnesses by Edward Clements Mayor and Justice of the Peace of Carrickfergus. Original held in Trinity College Dublin.
A series of bespoke hand-drawn 2D animations created by the Ulster University project team and award-winning animation studio Enter Yes, Belfast. Including a supernatural graphic novel filled with haunting visuals set in a misty isolated town off the coast of County Antrim. And a choice-driven video game in which you play the role of a witch finder that brings the chilling trial to life.
The new hub will launch on Saturday 23rd November at Carrickfergus Museum.
Ulster University Halloween Happenings
As Halloween creeps closer and the spine-tingling excitement builds, dare to embrace the spooky season with Ulster University’s thrilling celebrations across campuses at Coleraine, Belfast and Derry~Londonderry kicking off from Friday 25 October.