The Body Bus - full-day historical body snatching coach tour from Belfast
Schedule
Fri May 22 2026 at 10:00 am to 06:00 pm
UTC+01:00Location
Belfast Cathedral | Belfast, NI
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RESURRECT THE RESURRECTIONISTS!Join dark historian Andrew Johnston of Alternative Ulstours on World Goth Day for a guided coach tour exploring the horrific history of body snatching in Ulster!
Relive the dreaded reign of Georgian Ireland's 'resurrection men' and investigate what relics remain of this grimly fascinating era.
Journey across counties Antrim and Down, darkening a series of atmospheric, old graveyards frozen in time.
Along the way, confront the terrible tale of infamous Ulstermen Burke and Hare, as well as many lesser-known cases and characters.
Stop 1 - Clifton Street Cemetery, Belfast
• Learn about body snatching deterrents used by Belfast's 'New Burying Ground'
Stop 2 - Friar's Bush Graveyard, Belfast
• Discover the preventions put in place at Belfast's most violated cemetery
Stop 3 - Knockbreda Cemetery, Belfast
• Hear the extremities one man went to in order to protect his remains
Stop 4 - Magheradrool Old Graveyard, Ballynahinch
• Walk through the remnants of a body snatching watch-tower
Stop 5 - High Street, Ballynahinch
• See where local 'resurrectionists' concealed bodies in a secret chamber
Stop 6 - Shankill Graveyard, Belfast
• Behold the surviving structure of another watch-house
Stop 7 - Mallusk Cemetery, Mallusk
• A 'resurrection lamp' still stands guard in this rural necropolis
Stop 8 - Templetown Mausoleum, Templepatrick
• Visit Castle Upton's imposing tomb, hiding in plain sight
Stop 9 - St John's Church of Ireland, Donegore
• Inspect a macabre 'morthouse' atop Donegore's neolithic burial mound
Stop 10 - St Saviour's Parish Church, Connor
• View a unique 'death house' on the home turf of the 'Connor Body Boys'
Stop 11 - Rashee Old Cemetery, Ballyclare
• This eerie site holds a morthouse and one of Ulster's few surviving 'mortsafes'
Stop 12 - Christ Church, Ballynure
• Another 'corpse house' awaits in County Antrim's second-oldest cemetery
Stop 13 - Ballylinney Old Burial Ground, Ballylinney
• Uncover the secrets of this obscure graveyard, before returning to Belfast as night falls
Please note:
• The tour starts outside Belfast (St Anne's) Cathedral on Donegall Street in Belfast city centre, where your guide will be waiting for you
• Please arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled start time
• The tour will last eight hours and will feature some walking, including on hilly, rough and potentially wet ground
• Please advise us in advance of any relevant mobility issues or health conditions
• The tour ends at Belfast (St Anne's) Cathedral on Donegall Street in Belfast city centre
• The itinerary is subject to change due to unexpected events, local conditions or other circumstances out of our control
• The tour will go ahead in all weathers
• Please wear sturdy, waterproof footwear
• Please wear warm clothing and bring a waterproof coat
• Please bring drinking water and stay hydrated
• A head torch is optional, but may be useful in the event of low light conditions
• There will be comfort and refreshment stops throughout the day (refreshments at own cost)
• There will be a 45-minute lunch stop (lunch at own cost)
• Your guide is a Level 4 'blue badge' tour guide and Visit Belfast industry partner
• The tour is fully insured through Tour Guides NI
Very important:
• The tour is open to all ages, but parental guidance is advised due to the graphic nature of some content. You have been warned!
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Where is it happening?
Belfast Cathedral, St Annes Cathedral (C of I), Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2HB, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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