Spooky Spirits In Ireland

Northern Ireland

A Spirit Called Buttoncap

Atop of a rocky promontory stands Carrickfergus Castle, a Norman castle located in the town of Carrickfergus. At one time it was completely surrounded by the sea. Up until 1928, the castle had an important military role and over the centuries was besieged by the Scots, Irish, English and the French. John de Courcy the conqueror of Ulster began building the castle sometime between the years 1180 AD and 1204 AD, Carrickfergus Castle has had extensions built to it over about 800 years and today it is maintained by the Environment and Heritage Service.

A young soldier who was still around at the end of the 16th century and known as "Buttoncap" has remained to haunt the castle, It is supposed this soldier met with a violent and tragic death, He was thought to have been accused of murdering an office in the castle and then found guilty and executed. Another story tells the tale of this unfortunate soldier having fallen in love with another man's wife and was murdered by the husband. Whatever the true story is this soldier's spirit can be found at the castle even today.

The Haunting of the Red Room

Castle Leslie has been the home to the eccentric Leslie family for more than 300 years. The castle has played host to such celebrities as Sir John Betjeman, WB Yeats, Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney. It was designed in the Scottish Baronial style by Charles Lanyon and W.H. Lynn in 1870 for the 1st Baronet MP, Sir John Leslie.

Inside Castle Leslie, the Red Room is supposedly haunted by Norman Leslie, killed during WW I, Lady Marjorie, his mother awoke one night to see the spirit of her son standing near the foot of the bed looking through some letter. After a while, the apparition turned and looked at her, smiled, and faded away. Other strange happenings include the ringing of bells and unusual figures walking the corridors.

Southern Ireland

Skeleton-like Figure Atop of the Tower

Near Shannon Harbor, a busy port on the Shannon River you can find Clonony Castle. The McCoughlan clan built this Norman-style castle around the beginning of the 16th century, The castle sits atop a rocky outcrop rising high into the sky. It is being haunted by a strange man all surrounded by a hazy, eerie glow. Wearing old-fashioned clothes he stands on the top of the tower. He is a tall, scary skeleton-like figure and can be seen by people who drive past the castle.

Strange Tale of the Foxes

Gormanston Castle was once owned by the Preston Family from 1363 AD. Through the centuries there has been a Viscount Gormanston living in the castle until it was sold to the Franciscan Friars in the late 1940s. Legend has it that whenever a Viscount is about to die, lots of foxes surround the castle and stay there until the death occurs. It has been recorded that in 1860 as the 12th Viscount was dying foxes roamed around the castle for several days.

They barked and howled all night long beneath the Viscount's window and then left only after the funeral. The strangest thing about these foxes was that they roamed through poultry flocks not even giving them any notice and were not attacked by guard dogs as if they were not really there. Supposedly this all started in the 17th century when the Viscount Gormanston of that time saved the life of a vixen and her young during a hunt. Afterwards, the foxes began appearing when this Viscount was upon his deathbed.

Dungeon With a Temple

Huntington Castle in County Carlow stands on grounds that are surrounded by the Derry and Slaney Rivers. It was built on the site of an Abbey that had been built on the site of a Druids Temple dating from the 14th century. The castle was built by Lord Esmonde and gave the impression of being haunted with strange corridors, dark interiors, tapestries, and forboding family portraits. For the past 200 years, it has been home to the Durdin-Robertson family. Huntington Castle was featured in the movie "Barry Lyndon" made by Stanley Kubrick, who was a guest there.

Among the strangest things about this castle is that it has a dungeon with an old temple honoring the goddess Isis - the Durin. The Robertson family were the founders of the Fellowship of Isis which is a cult dedicated to the Egyptian goddess. The family held ceremonies in the temple that were attended by witches from other countries.

Another remarkable feature of Huntington Castle is the Yew Walk dating back to the 17th century. Supposedly ghostly monks have been seen gliding through these gnarled, interlocking tree branches that form a tunnel. The spirit of Lord Esmond's wife Ailish O'Flaherty has also been seen in the garden beneath the light of the moon combing her hair and crying. It was in the garden that in life she had stood waiting for her husband and son to return from war.

Finally, the ghostly face of a tragic soldier can be seen. During the time of Oliver Cromwell's rebellion, a soldier dressed in enemy uniform to spy on the enemy. When he knocked on the door for his fellow soldiers to let him in he was not recognized and shot through the door grille. His spirit continues knocking.

White Ghost in the Night

Killua Castle in Westmeath was once home to the Chapman family from England. Because they were cousins to Sir Walter Raleigh they could purchase large parcels of land in Ireland in the 16th century. This castle is best known for being the family seat of T.E. Lawrence - Lawrence of Arabia. During the night a white ghost can be seen roaming about the ruins. People assume this is the spirit of a land steward from the 18th century who swindled large amounts of money from his master. He then drank away all the money and committed suicide by jumping into the lake.