By Ruth Cawley
From ancient castles shrouded in tragedy to eerie abbeys and windswept cliffs with ghostly legends, Ireland has no shortage of thrilling tales to tell. These haunted hangouts offer a glimpse into the Ireland’s turbulent past and promise spine-tingling stories featuring otherworldly spirits and atmospheric landscapes. Whether you’re a believer in the supernatural or simply looking for a chilling adventure, these spooky sites are bound to leave a lasting impression!
1) Leap Castle, Co. Offaly
Known colloquially as Ireland’s most haunted castle, Leap Castle in Coolderry is steeped in a bloody and brutal history. Having been the site of a particularly vile murder, the castle itself is a ripe ground for storytellers and thrill seekers alike. According to legend, two brothers …
Sightings of various spectres have been reported over the years including that of a malevolent phantom called the Red Lady wielding a dagger and two young girls met their demise by falling from the battlements. There is also great intrigue surrounding the spirit known as the Elemental – a particularly grim omen of death and mystery that is said to have been summoned by a nineteenth-century occultist, Mildred Darby. There are conflicting reports of when the Elemental truly emerged – some believe the druids placed it there as a means of protection. Others claim sorcerer Gerald Fitzgerald used it to launch an attack on the castle.
The Bloody Chapel within Leap Castle is the known site of many a dark event throughout the castle’s history. In 1532, a power struggle for chieftainship within the O’Carroll family resulted in the brutal death of one of the sons. He was a priest who led a mass on the day he was murdered at the hands of his own brother. To this day, the chamber is referred to as the Bloody Chapel to signify the brutality of the crime and the fratricide that haunts the family’s home. Witnesses place this priest’s spectre lurking in the stairwells and within the chapel itself. One of the Bloody Chapel’s most prominent features is an oubliette where the O’Carroll family presumably incarcerated prisoners on the verge of death or hid their valuables.
Guided tours of Leap Castle are available where visitors can explore the creepy ruins. Historians conducted research into the landmark’s dark past and many tourists interested in history are fascinated by its associated stories. Ghost hunters sometimes frequent the grounds, hoping to encounter paranormal activity.
2) Hellfire Club, Montpelier Hill, Dublin
This three-hundred-year-old ruined hunting lodge on the Dublin Mountains is associated with devil worship, occult practices, and strange paranormal occurrences. It was constructed in 1725 on a cairn gravesite which is a poor omen. Since its renovation into the Irish Hellfire Club in 1735, rumours have run rampant about the Hellfire Club as the site where sinister rituals were performed. There have been many supposed sightings of Satan at the lodge. Legend tells of a stranger who joined the patrons for a game of cards. Later that night, one of the patrons looked under the table to retrieve a fallen card and he saw that the stranger had cloven hooves in place of human feet.
Other stories tell of secret meetings between Hellfire Club members and the mysteries surrounding their goings-on. When an outsider was invited into the private events, he was found wandering around the next morning. He was mute for the rest of his life and lost all memory of his own identity. Additional reports of strange smells in the air and residues from presumed satanic rituals further cement locals’ superstitions about the nefarious activities of the Hellfire Club.
Visitors are recommended to take two hiking paths – the 5.5km Hellfire forest trail or the 4km Montpelier trail. To see the Hellfire Club ruins and get a panoramic view of Dublin, visitors can ascend to the top of Montpelier Hill. The eerie atmosphere makes it a popular destination for ghost tours and the perfect Halloween activity for thrill-seeking visitors. The lodge is now in ruins due to storm and fire damage.
3) Charleville Castle, Co. Offaly
Situated near the town of Tullamore, Charleville Castle is a semi-derelict fortification with a wealth of ghost stories and noble histories to its name. Since 1641, it has stood and housed many noble families, including the First Earl of Charleville and often hosted the famed poet, Lord Byron. However, the castle has been unoccupied since 1912 and many attempts of restoration have been made.
Charleville Castle was referred to as one of the most haunted locations in Europe by popular media programmes. The third Earl of Charleville lived in the castle with his family, including his youngest daughter named Harriet. She was a playful child who decided to slide down the banister of a winding staircase. Tragically, she lost her grip and fell to her untimely death from several storeys. To this day, people claim to see a ghostly girl in a blue dress wandering the halls or stairwell. Other reports state they hear her singing and laughing during the night or feel cold spots. Her grief-stricken parents installed a railing on the banister to prevent future tragedies.
Today, the Charleville Castle Heritage Trust manages events held at the castle and ensures these renovations are being implemented. Volunteers and community members hold auctions, dramas, and festivals on the grounds during the spring and summer, such as the Mór Festival and Castlepalooza. History buffs and horror enthusiasts can attend ‘fright night’ where the castle’s ghost stories and histories are shared and explained in detail. The surrounding forest adds to the spooky atmosphere of the grounds and acts as a beautiful natural backdrop.
4) Dún an Óir, Blasket Islands, Co. Kerry
Dún an Óir is an ancient fortress located on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. The name translates to “Fort of Gold”, but instead of riches, the site is marked by a haunting legacy from a violent incident in 1580.
During the Second Desmond Rebellion, Dún an Óir was the scene of a brutal massacre. Over six hundred Irish and Spanish soldiers, who had taken refuge in the fort, were surrounded by English forces led by Lord Grey of Wilton. The soldiers surrendered, expecting to be spared. Instead, they were executed on-site and their bodies piled high on the grounds. Legend has it that the sands around the fort were stained red with blood. The screams of the fallen are rumoured to be heard at night, carried by the winds across the cliffs and shoreline. Local lore claims these soldiers’ restless spirits still haunt the fort in search of justice or peace that never came. The surroundings emit an eerie, chilling atmosphere for visitors.
Dún an Óir is a more sombre setting for Halloween, but the fortress stands out in Irish history as the stage for one of Ireland’s bloodiest events. It is ideal for those interested in hunting for ghosts or historical remnants in remote, haunted ruins.
5) Loftus Hall, Co. Wexford
Often regarded as Ireland’s most haunted house, Loftus Hall is located on the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford and is well-known for chilling ghost stories and bizarre occurrences. Originally built in the fourteenth century, the house is reputedly haunted by the spirit of Anne Tottenham and a mysterious demonic figure, making it an unmissable experience for paranormal enthusiasts.
The most famous legend dates back to the eighteenth century when Anne Tottenham and her family lived at Loftus Hall. One stormy night, a stranger arrived at the door seeking shelter. Similarly to the legends surrounding Dublin’s Hellfire Club, the stranger joined them in a card game and Anne saw he had cloven hooves under the table. Her piercing scream alerted the family to the stranger’s true demonic nature, and he abruptly vanished in a burst of flames. The scorch marks reached as high as the ceiling, leaving behind a large hole that supposedly remains there to this day. The shock of the encounter left Anne in a despondent state, and she was confined to her room for the remainder of her life. More and more of the girl’s personality faded over time and never returned before her death.
Now, visitors report that Anne’s spirit haunts the hall, with many witnessing strange apparitions, sudden temperature drops, and unexplainable sounds. Some even claim to have seen her face in the windows or heard her faint cries echoing through the halls. Loftus Hall has since garnered a reputation as one of Ireland’s most haunted houses, drawing curious adventurers and ghost hunters who hope to catch a glimpse of its bizarre happenings. Ghost tours are available where students can explore the eerie mansion and hear the tales for themselves. It is considered the ultimate haunted house experience on Halloween.
For any students looking for an adrenaline-filled adventure after Halloween 2024, these top location picks are a good start. Each of them offers intriguing tales of tragedy and morbidity as well as an opportunity to explore local history in more detail. It is said that curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back!