Re-Imagining The Islandmagee Witches Exhibition

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A new ‘project hub’ is now open at Carrickfergus Museum allowing visitors to explore the story of the Islandmagee Witches – the last witch trial to take place in Ireland.

A collaborative project between Ulster University and Carrickfergus Museum (Mid and East Antrim Borough Council) resulted in an exhibition at Carrickfergus Museum last autumn.

Reimagining the Islandmagee Witches: An Interactive Exhibition showcased the historical research of Dr Andrew Sneddon, and creative interpretations from 'The Islandmagee Witches Digital and Creative Project' (w1711.org), led by Dr Victoria McCollum and Dr Sneddon.

The exhibition was designed to enable a deeper understanding of the events that took place, here, over 300 years ago. Following on from this, a new project hub will open in Carrickfergus Museum as a legacy to the project. It features the research and expertise of Brian Coyle, Dr Helen Jackson, Dr Adam Melvin, Sabrina Minter and Shirin Murphy.

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, Mar. 1710/11

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,

Samuel Molyneux Papers, Ms 883/2: 273-85.

Animations

A series of bespoke hand-drawn 2D animations, created by the Islandmagee Witches Ulster

University project team and award-winning animation studio Enter Yes, Belfast.

Graphic Novel

A supernatural graphic novel filled with haunting visuals set in a misty isolated town off the coast of County Antrim.

Game

A choice-driven video game in which you play the role of a witch finder following the trial.

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.”