Horror may rule the box office with Scream 7 – but real ghost stories are the epitome of terror. Check out our list of the five most haunted places in Ireland.
The 5 most haunted places in Ireland are an unforgettable treasure trove of real ghost stories, as told by visitors and staff.
There are a few stand-out examples that keep the stories in the pubs alive, and a chill in the air that the warmth of the turf fire cannot touch. Here are the five most haunted places in Ireland!
5. Oweynagat Cave (Cave of the Cats) – the gateway to hell
Reputed by early Christian monks to be the gateway to hell, and by others as the portal to the Otherworld, this cave purportedly houses many supernatural creatures that exit the cave mouth on Samhain.
It is also associated with the Morrígan, Celtic goddess of war. Oweynagat is also closely linked in tradition to the origin of Samhain, the festival that gave rise to Halloween.
Visitors may view the cave exterior, but the cave interior is not always open to the public. Check with the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre beforehand.
Address: Rathcave, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
4. Ballyboley Forest – Northern Ireland’s haunted grove
Modern Ballyboley was planted in 1957, but locals believe its roots date back much further than that. Legend has it that Ballyboley has been the site of many disappearances.
Stories tell of several people going missing from the forest and its surrounding areas over the centuries.
Said to be the site of sacrifices, visitors report seeing apparitions of Druids in the forest and experiencing an eerie sensation of dark energy there. The very trees are imbued with the echo of a dangerous magic.
Address: 81 Upper Ballyboley Road, Larne BT40 2TH Northern Ireland
3. Kinnitty Castle – County Offaly’s haunted castle hotel
Spend the night conducting your own paranormal investigation at Kinnitty Castle Hotel, nestled in the Slieve Bloom mountains.
This is one of Ireland’s castle hotels we’d all love to stay in.Hauntings have been reported in some of its historic rooms.
According to hotel staff, some of their resident spirits include a monk affectionately known as Hugh, and Lady Catherine, who renovated the castle, can be seen playing with a child in the Geraldine Suite.
Address: Castle Hotel, Castletown And Glinsk, Kinnitty, Co. Offaly, R42 CY50, Ireland
2. Aughrim Battlefield – Ireland’s Culloden
Like Culloden in Scotland, the Battle of Aughrim saw a great loss for the Jacobite side. Thousands of men were killed in a scant few hours, and the battle concluded with the decapitation of St. Ruth, the French general in charge.
There are tales of a spectral dog to rival Greyfriars Bobby in his loyalty, and the Bloody Hollow, an area of the battlefield that suffered particular loss.
Today, visitors claim that the screams of the fallen soldiers can still be heard at the Visitor’s Centre.
Address: Cloonameragaun, Co. Galway
1. Leap Castle – Ireland’s most haunted
Leap Castle is arguably the most haunted place in Ireland. Like the Red Wedding in Game of Thrones, Leap Castle’s history is steeped in betrayal and bloodshed.
According to tradition, the O’Carroll clan was particularly violent and tended to invite people to a feast and then slit their throats.
There is a terrible oubliette in the castle, out of which workmen hauled several skeletons. The Bloody Chapel was the site of a priest’s murder by his own brother. A castle with such a haunted history is sure to be home to many ghosts.
Address: EIRCODE R421, Leap, Roscrea, Co. Offaly, Ireland
Ireland is an island with a storied past. There are ghost stories in every far-flung corner of the land. These real ghost stories from the five most haunted places in Ireland will make you popular this weekend at the pub!
