Monday 19 December 2011

TEN HAUNTED HOSTELERIES IN IRELAND

If you are looking for a scare at bedtime or a pint with a friendly ghost, there's plenty to choose from in Ireland.

Offaly's Haunted Triangle - Kinnitty, Leap and Charleville
Kinnitty Castle
In the Banquet Hall of this spectacular Gothic castle, the "Phantom Monk of Kinnitty" has been seen by staff and visitors, gliding along the room. He often stops to look out of a particular window that overlooks a courtyard. He even communicates with staff members and visitors from time to time.
There are also two haunted bedrooms - the Geraldine Room and Elizabeth rooms. In other areas of the building eerie presences are often felt.

Leap Castle
Leap is famous for its many ghosts and spirits, as well as a foul smelling elemental creature, half human and half beast, who roams the lower regions of the Castle.
There is also the ghost of a young girl thought to be the spirit of a daughter of a one-time owner of the Castle. Her father killed the boy she loved, so one night when he was sleeping his daughter killed him.
The following day as the girl was standing at the top of the castle an invisible hand pushed her and she fell to her death.
It is believed her father's ghostly hand pushed her, and every night her spirit roams the castle mourning her lost love.
Many visitors to Leap have heard eerie moaning and weeping at night, and lights are seen at the top of the Castle.



Charleville Castle
The castle was built in by Charles Bury, the 1st Earl of Charleville, between 1798 and 1812. It is said that Bury was a devil-worshipper whose ghost still walks among the dungeons, catacombs and tower.
The castle is haunted by the ghost of a young girl who fell down the stairs to her death in the early 1800s.
The girl still roams around the castle and can be heard moving furniture around, laughing and talking.

 



Ross Castle, Meath
This historic castle was built in 1533 by the lord of Devon, Richard Nugent, 12th Lord Delvin--also known as the "Black Baron".
The legend goes that in 1536, Sabina, the Baron's daughter, slipped away one day to meet a man named Orwin on a bridge at the edge of her father's property. The Baron was English and Orwin was the son of an Irish lord, so it was not considered a proper match. They eloped taking a boat out onto Lough Sheelin.
While out on the lake, the boat overturned. Orwin hit his head and died. Sabina was rescued but didn't awaken for three days. When she did she came across her Orwin's body laid out in the palace chapel. She died from the shock of it soon afterwards.
She and Orwin are buried nearby in a mound down the road near the quarry. It is said that her spirit returned to Ross, while Orwin's returned to his family's home. Her screams can be heard in the dead of night.
 



Kavanagh's ("The Grave Diggers"), Glasnevin, Dublin
This pub from 1833 is named after the former landlord John Kavanagh - who fathered 25 children.
It is commonly known as "The Gravediggers" due to its proximity to Prospect Cemetery and the frequently observed custom to order a pint by throwing a shovel of earth from the cemetery against the pub's wall.
The resident ghost is said to be an elderly man in old-fashioned tweeds, who sits at the bar enjoying a pint ... until he disappears without a trace.

The Castle Inn, Lord Edward Street, Dublin
The birthplace of James Clarence Mangan (1803) and one of Michael Collins's favourite watering holes. Mangan still frequents the place today.
A poet, his best known work is "Roisin Dubh", and he died of cholera in 1849 after a short, drug-fueled life.
Today the temperature is said to dip and the mood to darken whenever Mangan's ghost decides to drop into the Castle Inn.

Ballygally Castle Hotel, Larne, Co. Antrim
This castle from the 17th century is home to the ghost of Lady Isabella Shaw. She was imprisoned because she gave birth to a girl instead of a boy.
Broken-hearted Lady Isabella clutched her child and leapt to her death.
Isabella's knocking at doors is said to scare and frighten guests. Even more frightening though is the wailing of a child that can be heard on other occasions.



The Brazen Head, 20 Lower Bridge Street, Dublin
Reputed to be Dublin's oldest pub, although the current building is not the original one. It was formerly used by "Bold" Robert Emmet for meetings.
He was hanged in September 1803 but still visits the "Brazen Head" in spectral form. He usually takes his place in the corner and looks out for enemies.
Popular with tourists, even Emmet's executioner was a regular here.

Kyteler's Inn, Kieran Street, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
Named after Dame Alice Kyteler, the 'Witch of Kilkenny' because it occupies the ground where her house once stood.
Accusations of wrongdoing and witchcraft followed her survival of several wealthy husbands. Alice and her son bought their freedom back, but her servant Petronella was burned at the stake.
It is said that she is the female ghost haunting the premises, though some folk insist that it is Alice herself.



Renvyle House Hotel, Renvyle, Co. Galway
Once owned by Oliver St. John Gogarty, it was burned down by the IRA and completely rebuilt. However, this did not get rid of several ghosts residing there.
Even W.B.Yeats witnessed the unexplained happenings - doors opening and closing, groans, bedsheets flying off and sleepers being thrown out of their beds.
Some female guests undressing have even spotted voyeuristic ghosts in the mirror!

Source: independent i.e
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