We now turn our sights to the southern part of Ireland, like Wales and the southern part Northen Ireland is host to many ancient buildings brimming with stories of old too. They tend to use Irish a lot more down there too (like wales Ireland does have it's own language). Maybe some worse than others due to the fact that northern territory is certainly grounded in the fay and supernatural.
Never mess with the wee people, if leprechaun has taught me anything it's that!
Okay here we go first up with:
1. The Hellfire Club, Dublin
Or Montpelier Hill as its also known is one of the (supposed) first Freemasons lodges in Ireland, First built as a hunting lodge in 1725, it was then known as Mount Pelier, now it's a hill but still carries the Pelier name.
Anyway between the years of 1735-41 it was owned by the Freemasons who used the place for sick practices and debauchery, as well as Demonic and Satanic practices. Demons and trapped spirits are said to roam the halls!
2. Loftus Hall, Wexford
The site of Loftus Hall is steeped in history, as well as precarious location too!
Out on the Loftus Peninsula adjacent to a lighthouse stands the hall, yet before that in the depths of time in 1170 a knight Raymond Les Gros, built a castle there, then changing his name to Redmond he integrated into Irish society. Later the Redmond Family built a hall around 1350 to replace the castle. In 1650 it was then given to the Loftus Family.
Between then and now the Hall has been host to many, many different things, from nuns to travelers. It is said to be haunted by a black figure that arrives from the Harbor after his boat has forced there by a storm. The young lady of the house was taken heavily with the stranger back then, but was driven mad when she accidentally noticed the stranger had cloven hooves instead of feet.
She also haunts the halls in her mad state.
3. River Nore, Kilkenny
One of three Rivers known as the three sisters that runs through 3 cities in Northern Ireland, Tipperary, Laois and Kilkenny, Kilkenny itself no stranger to death and supernatural situations being home to first witch trials, in 1763 however a different drowning occurred, accidental.
During a great flood a group of 16 people crossing a bridge died when it collapsed sending them into the rushing Nore. People claim to be able to see ghostly figures clawing at the rivers edges in the rising mists and on the banks in the mornings!
4. Leap Castle, Offaly
No exact date can be found for the building of this castle, estimated between 13th and 15th centuries. Built by the O'Bannon clan it was prized for it's fertile grounds around the castle. More recent studies have found that it could have been built on an even earlier Neolithic site of 500bc!
This could have something to do with the strong spiritual energy a lot of people claim to feel here when visiting. There was a lot of infighting with the families in this area too, the O'Carroll's who the O'Bannon's were under had a lot of family strife.
So many deaths, murders and foul play in one spot is said to create such energies, if your a true believer Leap castle is supposedly one of the main places to visit on any list.
5. Charles Fort, Cork
Charles Fort is a bastion built on the waters edge in county Cork in Ireland, first constructed in 1682, it's now a heritage museum for tourism. So with all this history and that footfall you can bet some scary and spooky things are seen around the site by people.
And at least one place has to have at least one Lady in White ghost associated with them, Charles fort is indeed home to one. So the story goes, a soldier got married but due to complications he still had to take watch on his own WEDDING NIGHT!
Unfortunately said soldier had a little to much merry juice and passed out at his post, as was the rules of the time period the soldier was shot dead at his post for 'abandoning his post'. His wife distraught at the news threw herself from the fort walls ending her life. Now people have claimed to see the Lady in many a different place in the fort, but mainly in the bedrooms.
Well there we go, five places you might like to check out in Ireland if and when we're ever allowed outside again. Thanks for taking the time to read this, hope you enjoyed it there's more to come, at least one every month or so THN.