Cluedo on foot

Solve murder mysteries in Cavan towns

There has been an insurgence of unsolved murders in Cavan. This is not surprising. They were all meticulously planned by a couple who run their nefarious operations from Virginia. The murders of Phil Potts, Doug Graves and Rowan Boatman are of course all pretend. Solving the crimes on the ‘Mystery Trails’ though is a real-life adventure.

On this dull, but warm summer day, my daughter and I decided to embark on the mission of solving the murder of Phil Potts, Bailieborough's Tidy Town's chairman, who was found slumped in a flower bed outside St Anne’s church. We have received a screeching red booklet with 17 suspects, possible murder weapons and an abundance of clues to be explored on a thoroughly researched route.

“It’s like a nature walk, but with riddles,” the near seven-year-old remarks excitedly while trailing up the Bailieborough road towards town.

As a parent, it is hard to keep them occupied, especially during the summer months. So having stumbled over this activity on our doorstep was a stroke of luck. On our 3km loop through Bailieborough, we get to run some errands while actually taking note of the plaques and landmarks that disclose the town’s unique history. After closely inspecting the Metalmen statue, we drop off some books. The local librarian is thrilled to hear about the mystery trail. “It’s like cluedo on foot!”, she remarks.

This self-guided adventure is just one of five in Cavan and of a total of 180 that Pat and Karen Gillick have meticulously constructed in the past years. Initially, they were solely a family matter: “With four small kids on a shoestring budget, I always set up treasure hunts around the house,” says Pat.

Once lockdown hit, they got bored of their walking perimeter and Pat knew how to spruce it up: “I created the first treasure hunt around Virginia and just expanded it.”

Different murder mysteries can be solved in Belturbet, Ballyjamesduff, Cavan Town and Cootehill, as well as Granard, Kells and Carrickmacross and all over Ireland and a few abroad. Anywhere “the wife takes me” is where Pat immediately begins to scan the territory.

Hidden signs, significant statues, prominent names, high and low can all be integrated into the next mystery trail. He makes sure the route and clues are accessible at all times, no private property has to be entered and that they are pushchair and wheelchair friendly. They regularly revisit the tours and have a contact number in case clues have disappeared, or people are indeed left clueless.

Through their small business, Pat and Karen have given rural towns and essentially the people who keep the towns tidy and interesting recognition by sending tourists their way. It has been a hit not only among whodunnit-aficionados. “We have people who have done 50 trails and another guy from the North who is hell bent on doing every trail,” says Pat.

In Bailieborough, with a coffee in hand, we briefly stop at the playground, before the child urges to eliminate further suspects. One thing that certainly has struck me in the past hour is how many different places of worship in Bailieborough alone exist. We also get to have a lovely view over the town, which I hadn’t previously had taken the time for. Proving Pat’s point that excitement is just a few steps away: “Explore what’s on your door.” We proudly submit the final suspect and murder weapon to the supplied phone number and our successful detective work is commended immediately. In a text, inspector Dan Delion thanks us for our service.

We now might just enter the Erne Waterways Regatta and investigate Rowan Boatman’s fate.