THN's Top 5 Haunted Places: Northern Ireland

Another place close to my heart, as my Nan was from NI making me 1/4 Irish too, not only that Ireland has a close thing with all things Halloween. From Samhain to other occult celebrations it's a fun time in Ireland around that time of year. I hope to experience it one day
Being a place like Wales where a lot of older buildings/areas still exist to this day, in very good condition too. Let's go on a little exploration hey?

1. Ballygally Castle Hotel


Built in 1625!
The castle is one of the only 17th century places in Northern Ireland still used as a residency today. In it's time it's housed many folk and been many things. Many leaving a possibly ghostly imprint on/in the halls and walls of the old castle.
In the 1700 it housed many protestants due to the civil war of the time, it was in the hands of the Shaw family until 1800's when they became bankrupt and had to sell the place. passing hands and families many times in the years up until 1950 when Lord Cyril turned the castle into the hotel it is today, residents claim to have heard voices in certain rooms.
Workers have seen apparitions and heard noises too, maybe it's some of the former owners or other dead folk!

2.White Horse Hotel

Looking at this place you'd not think some a modern(ish) looking place would be home to anything spooky. As such looks can be deceiving the Whitehorse Hotel is home to a stagecoach that many people have seen pull up outside the hotel. It then dispenses a portly man who walks up the doors then promptly vanishes without a trace.
Then there's the usual footsteps in the corridors and even bathroom noises when no one is around!

3. Mourne Mountains

The Mourne Mountains or to many just the Mournes is a very rocky mountain range in N. Ireland it's said to home to many spirits and powerful supernatural forces.
This one such spirit is the spirit light of Slieve Binnian, supposedly guides you or even blocks the path to some haunted trees!

4. Dunluce Castle

Though in disrepair it's one of the most haunted and oldest castles still standing in the whole of N. Ireland built in 1500 by the MacQuillan Family, though the earliest records of the castle are from 1513. It was then seized in 1550 by MacDonnell clan, they were a very brutal clan who brought an era of violence to the area.
Lots of ghosts are said to be seen, some believing the wronged members of the MacQuillan clan to haunt the site. Many ghostly noises have been put on record too.
You can go and explore around the grounds and see excavated items too!

5. Dark Hedges

This hellish looking place is the aforementioned Dark Hedges, planted in the 18th century by the Stuart family. They are beech trees that make this beautiful, though spooky archway of trees.
Spooky for a reason it's said ghostly carriages have been seen thundering down the road, ghostly sounds and apparitions come from the bushes.
It's also been used in the series Game of Thrones in Episode 1 of Season 2, little claim to fame there that makes it a popular site to see.

That's the north part of Ireland done, next time we do southern Ireland, both are massively historic places like wales I'm sure these areas will be a wealth of other top 5's later on.
This is THN signing out, bye!