Ireland is a land of stark contrasts.  Rolling green hillsides give way to treacherous cliffs over the Atlantic.  Peace loving stoicism couples with fierce love of country that has led to some of the most bloody standoffs in the history of the world.  Devout Catholicism walks hand in hand with the old pagan belief in the faery folk.

It’s a place where magic still seems possible and so it’s no wonder that it is host to so many famous hauntings.  Indeed, it seems that almost every village and city in Ireland has at least one haunted well, field, or building.  In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, I thought I’d illuminate a few of these fantastic places and their stories.

Bram Stoker’s Home

Most famous today for penning the great Gothic novel Dracula, Abraham “Bram” Stoker was mostly known in his life as a business manager for the Lyceum Theater and personal aide to actor, Henry Irving.  It was during his time working at the theater that he began writing and his most famous novel was published in 1897.  Toward the end of the first decade of the 20th century, Stoker suffered a series of strokes and he died in April of 1912.  It wasn’t long before reports began to rise that when passing the late author’s home at night, his shadow could be seen writing by candlelight at his desk.  These reports carry on until today making this otherwise plain home stand out among its peers.

Leap Castle

Leap Castle stands in County Offaly, a storied structure and home to one of the country’s most violent power struggles.  In the 16th Century, the castle was home to the O’Carroll family, a powerful clan of chieftains.  When the patriarch of the family died in 1532, a power struggle broke out, pitting brother against brother to determine who would take the reins of power.  One of the brothers was a priest and while presenting Mass in the family’s chapel, his brother burst into the chapel and fatally wounded the priest.  The act of fratricide coupled with the blasphemous act of murder during a holy rite spawned what is believed to be a poltergeist or elemental spirit haunting.

It is also believed that an oubliette found in an adjoining room to what is known now as the Bloody Chapel added fuel to this troublesome spirit’s power.  For those who don’t know, an oubliette was also known as a forgetting place.  Often no more than a deep stone lined hole in the ground, prisoners would be dropped into the oubliette and never be spoken of again.  The luckiest of these prisoners in Leap Castle would fall upon an 8 foot spike and die quickly…the unlucky would most likely starve to death slowly as the smell of food wafted down from the nearby dining hall.

Such suffering would easily have fed the elemental spirit that is said to roam the halls to this day wreaking havoc on those who dare enter its space.  Owners and visitors have reported being pushed from ladders, tripped while walking down stairs, and even seeing the spectral entity with two dark holes where its eyes should be.

The White Lady of Kinsale

Located near the harbor of Kinsale, Charlesfort or Dun Chathail as it is known in Irish Gaelic is home to one of the most famous and tragic hauntings in Ireland.  Built during the reign of Charles II as a fortress to protect from approaching enemies at sea, Dun Chathail housed numerous soldiers.  It is said that one of these soldiers married a local girl known to be a great beauty.  On the night of their wedding, the soldier had watch duty.  Perhaps a little drunk and exhausted from the day’s celebration, he fell asleep at his post.  At the time, this would be what we consider a capital offense now.  He was shot and killed by his fellow soldiers at his post without so much as a trial.  Upon hearing of her husband’s death, the young bride leaped to her death from the fort’s walls.

It wasn’t long before the sightings of the White Lady began.  She was often seen in the presence of children around the fort, appearing as a guardian over the young and innocent.  One nurse reported seeing her standing over the bed of a sick child in an attitude of prayer.  She did not, however, reserve the same grace and care for the soldiers of Charlesfort.  As recently as the early 20th century, soldiers, and particularly officers, reported being pushed down flights of stairs inside the structure after catching glimpses of the White Lady.

The fort was decommissioned in 1922, but to this day, locals say they see the White Lady walking the walls of the fort at night.

Charleville Castle

Charleville Castle photo by James Brennan

Charles William Bury really should have put more thought into his plans of building a great castle for his family.  Alas, he didn’t and Charleville Castle has had problems ever since.  From 1800 to 1809, the great structure was built in the midst of what was the oldest primordial oak woods in Ireland.  Sacred to the Druids and other monastic orders, the land had always been considered a place of power and was the home to several faery mounds.  These mounds of earth were said to be imbued with magic by the Druids and sacred structures to the faery folk themselves.  It’s considered not only bad luck but dangerous to destroy these sites.  Bury didn’t much care to listen when he was told this, however, and it is reported that between one and three mounds were destroyed in the castle’s construction.  In destroying the trees and the faery mounds, Bury brought down what is believed to be a curse on the land and structure.  Over the centuries, people have reported numerous sightings of spirits and run ins with angry members of the ancient faery race within the walls and grounds of Charleville.

Trinity College

This beautiful college is a renowned temple of learning with more notable alumni than I could ever list. (Though I will add that Bram Stoker received his degree in mathematics here.)  It is not, however, without its own dark history.  Between 1786 and 1803, the head of the department of medicine was Dr. Samuel Clossey.  It was said he took great delight in teaching the “art of dissection” to his students and was not above grave robbing to provide fresh cadavers for his classes.  Though this was not unheard of at the time, it is also rumored that two of his students disappeared under strange circumstances and that some of his collected cadavers were used after hours for his own dark experimentation.  Students and faculty have both reported sightings of the man since his death.  He walks the college halls carrying an amputation kit and organs.

The Grange Stone Circle at Lough Gur

The Grange Stone Circle is the largest standing stone circle in all of Ireland.  Located just west of Lough Gur in County Limerick, the circle has a diameter of 150 meters comprised of stones that weigh up to 40 tons.  The stone circles have always been a mystery and this one is no different.  Created to line up with the Summer Solstice it was once a place of worship, but once again, it is said to truly belong to the faery folk.  They are willing to share the circle in the daylight hours with outsiders, but locals will tell you not to tread near it at night.  It’s at this time that the fey take charge and are unwilling to share their place with humans.  Strange disappearances, the sounds of voices and faery music have all been reported at the stone circle.  It is a place that is eerie even when the sun is shining.