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Iveagh House: The Dying Servant and the Cross in the Window

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It is said a cross shows up in the window of the Iveagh House in Dublin, the former home of the powerful Guinness family. Legend has it’s a haunting that happened after a maid was denied her last rites in the house. 

Along St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin, a garden square and public park in the city, Iveagh House at 80-81 in that bustling street, is a gleaming Georgian mansion that holds centuries of secrets behind its refined white façade. There is also a ghostly mystery said to occur there, seen through the windows every Holy Thursday. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Ireland

Built in 1736, it was once two separate houses before Benjamin Guinness, grandson of the famed Arthur Guinness, merged them into one grand residence in 1862. Today, the stately home serves as the headquarters of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs.

Iveagh House: Image/Jnestorius

The Legend of the Dying Catholic Maid

The legend tells of a young servant girl who once worked for the Guinness family. When illness struck her, she lay dying in her room upstairs, pleading for a priest to administer her last rites as she was a devout catholic. 

The household, devout Protestants themselves, refused her this last request. Desperate and feverish, the girl clung to her rosary beads, but the story says they were torn from her hands and thrown from the window into the garden below. Her cries faded, and by morning she was gone.

The Cross on Holy Thursday

Not long after her death, the house began to draw attention from the city. On every Holy Thursday from then, a faint yet unmistakable cross appeared on one of the panes of glass in the girl’s room. Crowds were said to have gathered in the street below to witness it, murmuring prayers and tracing the sign with trembling fingers. No matter how many times the window was cleaned or replaced, the cross was said to reappear, glowing faintly against the light.

There are also those claiming it is the spirit of Dermot O’Hurley, the Archbishop of Cashel, who was hanged nearby on the 20th of June, 1584.

To this day, staff working late in Iveagh House sometimes speak of a quiet unease that settles in the upper rooms, as though someone still lingers there in restless faith. The cross may have faded into legend, but the sorrow of the servant girl seems etched into the air of the old Guinness mansion.

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  • Darkey Kelly: The Green Lady of the Liberties
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  • The Tragic Ghost of the Maid Haunting Visnes Hotel
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References:

Iveagh House – Wikipedia

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The Killakee Dower House in Dublin

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The Killakee Dower House in Dublin at the foot of the hill that would be known for its dark masses and hauntings, was for a long time affected by it. After the notorious Hellfire Club started to hold their meetings there, dark and mysterious things started to happen. 

The origins of Killakee House date back to the late 18th century when it was built as a hunting lodge by the prominent Connolly family. The Connolly’s, known for their connection to Castletown House in County Kildare, created this charming lodge on the estate that would later bear the name Killakee. The grand house was demolished in 1941, but the Dower House is still standing.

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland

The house itself is a two-story building, perched along the Military Road, offering a view of the surrounding countryside. Over the years, it has played multiple roles, from serving as a dower house to providing a residence for the estate’s manager.

The Sinister Beginnings: The Hellfire Club

The grounds around Killakee House are shrouded in dark history, notably due to the presence of the infamous Hellfire Club. In the mid-1700s, Richard Parsons established this sinister branch of the Hellfire Club, an English-based secret society known for its debauched and often disturbing gatherings.

First, the club rented another hunting lodge on top of the hill, but they would soon find their way into the Dower House as well. 

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Here, among the ruins of the Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill, members partook in activities that included devil worship, ritualistic animal sacrifice, and even witch burnings. One gruesome account tells of the ritualistic killing of a black cat, which was doused in whisky and set ablaze. This eerie connection to the supernatural would later come back to haunt Killakee Dower House.

After the hunting lodge they originally held their meeting in was damaged in a fire they started to hold the meetings at Killakee Dower House. After they left this place, the Dower House was left with a tainted reputation and believed to be haunted. 

The Arrival of Margaret and Nicholas O’Brien

In 1968, Margaret and Nicholas O’Brien breathed new life into the dilapidated Dower House, with dreams of transforming it into an arts center. Little did they know that their restoration efforts would awaken something otherworldly.

The Dowers House: The House has been called Killakee House Rathfarnham or the Stewards House among other thing and was the place were the Hellfire Club went to when their original meeting place was damaged in a fire.

The workmen began reporting strange occurrences as they were working at Killakee Dower House. Eerie sounds filled the air, and odd happenings became commonplace. But the most unsettling phenomenon was the appearance of a large black cat with piercing red eyes. 

The Haunting of the Black Cat

The most notorious apparition associated with Killakee Dower House is undoubtedly the spectral black cat. Witnessed by several individuals, including artist Tom McAssey, this mysterious feline was no ordinary house pet. Described as being as large as a Dalmatian, it emitted an ominous presence.

One night, Tom McAssey confronted the phantom presence outside the front door, believing it to be a prank by one of the workers. However, he soon realized that the figure was not human, and a menacing snarl was followed by the sight of a growling black cat with eerie red eyes. A shadowy figure growled “You cannot see me. You don’t even know who I am”. This terrifying encounter sent McAssey and the other workers fleeing in sheer terror.

The Seance at the Dower House

Beyond the spectral cat, Killakee Dower House harbored deeper mysteries. In October 1969, a group of actors decided to hold a séance within the house, unwittingly reawakening it’s supernatural energies. The disturbances resumed with renewed intensity.

In the following year, an astonishing discovery was made beneath the kitchen floor: the skeleton of a deformed dwarf, or perhaps a child, accompanied by a brass figurine of a demon. Who this person was, no one knows, but rumor was that it was one of the human sacrifices from the time the house was used by the Hellfire Club. The presence of this eerie artifact, along with the skeletal remains, further fueled the belief that malevolent forces had left their mark on Killakee House.

The Power of Exorcism at Killakee Dower House

In an effort to quell the unsettling occurrences, Margaret O’Brien enlisted the help of a priest to perform an exorcism on Killakee Dower House. Although this initial ritual provided some respite, the disturbances returned when a séance was conducted.

Ultimately, it wasn’t until the dwarf’s skeleton and the demonic figurine were properly buried that the hauntings ceased. This marked the end of a chapter of terror in the history of Killakee House.

The Killakee Dower House was used as a restaurant in the 1990s, but closed down in 2001. Today it is merely a private residence, and perhaps also, it is rid of its dark past and lingering ghosts.

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References:

Banshees, Bones and Haunted Stones: JennyPop’s Haunted Ireland 

Killakee House, Dublin, Ireland 

Creepy Irish Castles & Houses Halloween Irish culture and customs 

Tall Story Stands Up | Broadsheet.ie 

Montpelier Hill – Wikipedia 

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The Ghostly Tales of Dublin’s Olympia Theatre

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Behind the stage of the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, it is said that ghosts roam the dressing rooms and stages when the curtain is down. Staff have told us about everything from strange lights to full blown poltergeist activity and if we are to believe the reports, the hauntings are still going on. 

Dublin, a city rich in history and culture, is home to the Olympia Theatre, a grand venue that has witnessed over 140 years of entertainment. While it has hosted countless spectacular performances, the theater also boasts a darker side, with chilling ghost stories and eerie encounters that linger long after the curtain falls. Join us on a journey through the haunted history of the Olympia Theatre in Temple Bar.

A Stage Steeped in History

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Located on Dame Street, Dublin, the Olympia Theatre has been a cultural epicenter since its inception in 1879 when it opened as the Erin Music Hall. Over the years, this stage has welcomed an array of music, theater, and comedy performances, showcasing both local talents and international stars.

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland

It also housed the first screening of a cinematic movie on April 20th in 1896 from the Lumiere brothers. This is said to have had a profound effect on James Joyce who saw it with his sister, and he has also written passages on music hall culture in his masterpiece, Ulysses. 

Yet, it is the energy left behind by these remarkable shows that seems to attract some mysterious visitors, who choose to linger in the shadows.

Maureen Grant’s Mysterious Encounters

In 2021, the Olympia Theatre lost one of its beloved staff members, Maureen Grant that started working there in 1949, and remembers most of its history, like when the ceiling came crashing down in 1949 and the ghosts said to haunt the theater. 

In 2015, Maureen shared her series of eerie encounters with the Irish Independent, unveiling a tapestry of strange incidents. She recalled malfunctioning light switches, the haunting sound of a crying baby, and a personal experience that sent shivers down her spine. 

“I was standing in my bra and pants and as I turned on the tap the door opened. I said ‘Who is that?’ No answer so I closed the door, thought it was the breeze or something, and the next thing is the door goes bang, my smock came off the door and my tips went flying. I got really scared and fucked my coat on and ran into the café as I was with nothing under my coat.”
(source)

The haunting just became worse and to address the escalating paranormal activity, the theater brought in a medium that went to search for the specter. Inside for three hours in the theater, the medium identified the source of the baby’s cries and even gave the ghost a name—Charlie Parker. The theater’s bar became a hotspot for poltergeist activity, with glasses mysteriously flying off shelves and coins leaping from tills. 

John Brogan’s Ghostly Encounter

Maureen was not the only staff member that something was going on in the theater though.  Former stage manager John Brogan worked for 33 years at the Olympia Theatre and had his own paranormal experience early in his tenure. 

On a quiet Sunday afternoon, he watched in astonishment as a ghostly blue light floated out of one of the dressing rooms, gliding up the corridor, passing him, and disappearing around a corner. He never found out exactly what it was, but it made him believe the other stories that people told.

Additionally, the friendly apparition of a pallbearer began making appearances in the theater’s center aisle, a ghostly presence that the staff grew accustomed to and no one seems to mind, like it was an everyday occurrence to work alongside with ghosts.

Magical Chills with Joe Daly

You would think magicians would be almost comfortable with sharing a dressing room with ghosts, but even they can be a little skeptical of the paranormal. In 2008, magician Joe Daly was gearing up for his captivating show, ‘Magick Macabre,’ at the Olympia Theatre. Little did he know that he would experience something otherworldly in his dressing room. Joe described the eerie encounter to the Irish Independent, recounting an overwhelming feeling of unease and a palpable presence in the room. 

Unbeknownst to him, this dressing room had a spooky reputation, something both John Brogan and Maureen probably could confirm. Joe opted to share his dressing room with fellow cast members, and didn’t want to stay alone there.

The Haunted Olympia Theatre

The Olympia Theatre in Dublin, a place that has illuminated the city with countless performances, is also steeped in spine-tingling ghost stories and paranormal encounters. 

This historic venue holds more than just memories—it harbors the supernatural. These ghostly tales continue to add a layer of mystery to the theater’s rich history, reminding us that sometimes, the spotlight isn’t the only thing that lingers on the stage.

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References:

Ghosts, Glitz and Glamour: A Brief History of The Olympia Theatre, Dublin | Independent.ie 

Olympia Theatre | Haunted Dublin, Ireland | Spirited Isle

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The Ghosts of Drimnagh Castle

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Drimnagh Castle bears ghostly secrets if we are to believe the legends. Some claim it is haunted by an alchemist that used to live there, some say it is the ghost of Eleanora, who died after a love gone wrong. 

In the suburb of Drimnagh outside of Dublin, Drimnagh Castle (Caisleán Dhroimeanaigh in Irish) still stands. This Norman castle is unique in Ireland, boasting the distinction of being the sole surviving castle with a surrounding flooded moat from the Camac River. 

Ericlevik/Wikimedia

The annals of Drimnagh Castle harken back to a time when Ireland was still emerging as a nation. The first recorded owner of the castle was Sir Hugh de Bernival as early as 1216. The legacy of ownership passed through generations, with the Bernival family eventually adopting the name Barnewell, sometimes known as Barnewall.

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland

While the foundations of the castle were initially laid in the mid-13th century, the primary structures that endure today date back to the early 15th century. 

Drimnagh Castle remained in the Hatch family’s care until the mid-1950s. Louis Hatch bequeathed the castle to Dr. P. Dunne, the Bishop of Nara, who subsequently sold it for a nominal sum to the Christian Brothers. The Christian Brothers utilized the premises to establish a school, a legacy that continued until 1956 when they relocated to new schools and a nearby monastery.

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By the mid-1980s, the castle had fallen into disrepair. Roofs had collapsed, windows were missing, and masonry lay in partial ruin. It was during this period of neglect that Peter Pearson, an artist affiliated with An Taisce (the national trust for Ireland), initiated a local committee’s involvement in a restoration endeavor. FÁS (Foras Áiseanna Saothair), the state training authority, became a vital partner in this painstaking restoration program.

The Alchemist in the Tower of Drimnagh Castle

While Drimnagh Castle has witnessed centuries of history and restoration, it is not devoid of ghostly tales. One of the supposed ghosts haunting the place is the ghost of the Man in Black. Apparently he was an alchemist that worked in the old tower from the 17th century. According to the legend, he made a deal with the devil and for his sins, he had to walk the earth forever. 

Read More: Check out The Alchemist House on Carrer D’Estruc in Barcelona or Black Magic at Pfaueninsel for more stories about alchemists.

The most told story though is that about a young girl who is said to haunt the castle to this day. The haunting story that lingers within its ancient walls is that of Eleanora Barnwall in In the late 16th century.

Eleanora’s Descent into Eternal Sorrow

Eleanora Barnwall was the orphaned niece of Hugh Barnewall and destined to wed her cousin, Edmund Barnwall to keep their estates in the family, a man she liked and respected as family, but didn’t love as a man.

Once she went to a party at her friend’s manor in the outskirts of Dublin and Eleanora’s destiny was forever altered. She crossed paths with her true love, Sean O’Byrne. Sean, or Hugh as he is sometimes named was from the O’Byrne Clan of Wicklow, one of the enemies of the Barnwalls and the rest of the Norman families in Ireland. She loved him though, although she didn’t dare to confess to her family and the wedding was happening. 

Eleanora and Edmund embarked on a journey from Drimnagh Castle, with much fanfare befitting a noble wedding. Their destination was St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where the grand ceremony was set to unfold.

Sean O’Byrne and his followers descended upon Edmund’s coach when they were halfway there, shattering the dreamlike procession and attacking them. Edmund was killed amidst the tumultuous scene. 

In the chaos that unfurled, Eleanora’s uncle, Hugh, grasped the fleeting moments to rally his knights and repel the assault. Many O’Byrnes met their tragic end, and, heartbreakingly, so did Eleanora’s cherished Sean.

Eleanora was thrust back to Drimnagh Castle. Her uncle was livid and he incarcerated Eleanora within the castle’s imposing walls, driven by a maelstrom of emotions—partly out of concern for her safety, but mostly engulfed by an all-consuming anger. In his eyes, she bore the blame for the audacious attack on the wedding party—a stigma she could never escape.

In the dead of night or two after the attack, she managed to escape from the castle and went to Sean O’Byrne’s final resting place, deep within the Dublin Mountains. She clung to the earth that concealed her beloved until she as well died from exposure.

As the winds howled and the snowflakes blanketed her frail form, Eleanora’s sorrowful existence culminated in a haunting tragedy—a tale forever etched into the annals of Drimnagh Castle’s tormented history.

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References:

Drimnagh Castle – Wikipedia 

CASTLE STORIES | drimnaghcastle 

Dublin Stories 1: The Haunted Dustpan 

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Corney: The Dublin Ghost with a Sense of Humor

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A fine house in Dublin was for a time haunted by a notorious prankster that called himself Corney. And although the family tried more than one way to rid themselves of the ghost, he refused to leave and kept pestering the family until they left. 

Dublin, a city steeped in history and folklore, has its own fair share of spectral tales and paranormal phenomena. Among these eerie stories, the intriguing tale of Corney stands out as a remarkable account of a mischievous and talkative ghost with a sense of humor. 

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland

In the heart of Dublin city, a well-to-do family once moved into a splendid residence, hoping to create a warm and inviting home. The exact address is unknown today, but it is believed the building was around Stephen’s Green. Little did they know that their new abode came with an unexpected tenant—the spectral presence known as Corney.

The Cane’s Mysterious Disappearance

Life in their new home took an eerie turn when the father of the family sprained his leg at work, requiring a cane to move around. One night, as the family lay peacefully asleep and a distinctive thumping noise reverberated through the darkness and woke them up. The source of this eerie sound was none other than the father’s cane, which had mysteriously vanished from the foot of their bed.

The family members embarked on a midnight quest to retrieve the missing cane. To their astonishment, they were greeted by an unexpected and booming voice emanating from the cellar. It was a voice that introduced itself as Corney, though he often denied that as his true name. It was said that the voice sounded like it was speaking through an empty barrel. This initial encounter marked the beginning of Corney’s strange presence in their lives.

Corney’s Mischief and Pranks

Corney soon proved himself to be a playful and mischievous specter. He delighted in creating chaos within the household. Crockery went missing, cutlery disappeared, and household members complained of mysterious pinches they suffered when there was no one there. 

Even vegetables brought as gifts from relatives’ farms were hung up around the kitchen like bizarre decorations. One cupboard in the kitchen was off-limits to anyone else but Corney, who adamantly refused to allow anything to be stored there and threw everything out when they tried to put something in it.

Corney’s Antics Escalate

Corney had a distinct aversion to confinement. He wielded an uncanny ability to manipulate locks and keys, leaving a trail of bent and twisted mechanisms throughout the house. He had an uncanny knack for interrupting conversations in the kitchen, save for those held by those who held no fear of him. 

Haunted House: Corney was the family’s personal poltergeist, and took over the house and drove them out in the end.

As Corney’s presence in the house grew stronger, his antics took a more sinister turn. Household members struggled to keep servants, as the relentless mutterings, interruptions, and malicious practical jokes became increasingly unbearable. Those who had once slept in the kitchen on fold-out beds requested to move to the attic, hoping to escape Corney’s torment.

A Nightmarish All Hallows Eve

On All Hallows Eve, Corney made a chilling announcement that visitors would be arriving. That very night, the house echoed with the voices of five or six distinct entities. The next morning, the water in the house had turned as black as ink, and the pantry revealed bread and butter streaked with the sooty imprints of ghostly fingers. Guests claimed that sheets had been mysteriously pulled from their beds, and one young man reported a terrifying vision of a naked old man with peculiar features.

When the family tried to get a priest to expel him from the house though, Corney was silent the whole time. But after the priest left, he would return and continue his usual haunting antics. He only jumped out from the cupboard as he shouted “Haha, here I am, I am not confined to only one place in the house.”

Corney’s Departure

The beleaguered family decided it was time to move, but selling their lease proved challenging. Corney’s loquacious nature ensured that prospective buyers never made it past the kitchen and he scared them away. Desperate, the family sought to reach an agreement with Corney. It appeared that the entity had a soft spot for the lady of the house, who eventually persuaded Corney to settle down.

Eventually Corney said they would be alright as he was seeing a lady wearing black that would come to the house and buy it. And what he said happened. 

Corney’s Legacy

The whereabouts of Corney’s spectral presence today remain unknown, as even the exact address of the house has been lost to time. Nevertheless, the tale of Corney serves as a reminder that the supernatural can be as talkative as it is mysterious. 

So, should you ever come across a Dublin property with an uncanny history and an invitingly low price, remember to inspect the coal cellar carefully—lest you find yourself engaged in spirited conversations with the ghostly tenant, Corney!

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References:

The Ghost Below | Emerald Isle Irish and Celtic myths, fairy tales and legends 

Corney The Dublin Poltergeist – Ghost Stories From Ireland – Irish Folklore 

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The Haunting in Marsh’s Library in Dublin

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Haunting the Marsh’s Library in Dublin is the Archbishop, who is still rummaging through the books on the shelves, in search for a letter that never reached him in his lifetime.

Marsh’s Library is a sanctuary of knowledge, revered as Ireland’s oldest free public library right behind Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. The building is one of the few in Dublin that is still used for its original purpose, and even today you can see the cages they used to lock readers inside to stop them from stealing the precious books. 

Books in Cages: Books once was much more expensive than today, and to prevent theft, the library had these cages for people to sit in and read. It now has over 25,000 rare texts and 300 manuscripts in its collection. Nearly all of these can be accessed online.

Over the years, many famous literary figures like Jonathan Swift, James Joyce, and Bram Stoker have used this library to research their works. 

Bram Stoker, the literary genius behind the iconic 1897 Gothic novel “Dracula,” found inspiration within the library’s walls according to local lore as he spent much of his time in Dublin. As he delved into its literary treasures, he may have unknowingly drawn from the ethereal aura that enveloped Marsh’s Library.

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While its shelves bear the weight of countless times, they also harbor a more spectral presence—the ghost of Archbishop Narcissus Marsh that is said to haunt the library.

Born in 1638 and passing away in 1713, Archbishop Narcissus Marsh, the founder of Marsh’s Library in 1707, left an indelible mark on Dublin’s literary heritage. Yet, even in death, his story took a mysterious turn.

A Niece’s Elopement

Narcissus Marsh, Archbishop of Armagh

The eerie tale begins with the Archbishop’s young niece, whom he had lovingly raised. She fell in love and secretly married the curate of Chapelizod village when she was 19 years old. Instead of telling her uncle, she decided to elope and run away with him. 

Incidentally the Chapelizod Village within Dublin has more than one tragic love story. The etymology of the village indicates an association with Princess Iseult or Isolde from the Arthurian legend of Tristan and Isolde that suffered their own Romeo and Juliette ending. The village derives its name from a chapel consecrated in her honor.

The niece decided to leave behind a cryptic note, concealed within one of the library’s countless volumes where she explained it all and asked her uncle for forgiveness. But she hid the note too well and the Archbishop never found it, something that drove him back from the afterlife in search for the answers he never got.  

The Restless Search in Marsh’s Library

It is said that Archbishop Marsh’s ghost roams the hallowed halls of his beloved library to this very day. His spectral presence is eternally on the hunt for that elusive note, rummaging through the books. In death, as in life, he searches for answers and perhaps a way to reconcile with the past.

It is also said that walking from the first gallery to the second one, you can feel the temperature drop, even on the hottest of days. 

The Ghost of Jonathan Swift

The Archbishop is not the only resident of the Marsh’s Library as a ghost though. Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver’s Travels for instance is also said to pay the library a haunted visit once in a while as well. 

source

Both he and his girlfriend, Stella, are buried next door in the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. Esther Johnson as her real name was, could also been his secret wife and is rumoured to have married died some years before him. After she died in 1728, he made death mask of her and him and asked to be buried next to her.

Over a century later they were dug up again and it was hugely controversial. William Wilde who was the father of poet Oscar Wilde joined a team to exhume the bodies for examination in 1835. 

They made casts of both Swift’s and Stella’s skulls as part of the study. Although it was seen as a very unchristian thing to do, the library preserved the skull and the one belonging to Stella is in one of the cages at the back of the library. 

It is said that Swift comes to visit the Marsh’s Library to see Stella, as his skull is still in the cathedral. 

Dublin’s Haunted Treasure

As the moon cast an ethereal glow through the stained glass windows, Archbishop Narcissus Marsh continued his restless search within the hallowed halls of Marsh’s Library. For centuries, he had combed through the shelves, hoping to find the elusive letter from his niece that had evaded him in life and death.

And so, Marsh’s Library remained a sanctuary of knowledge, where the living and the departed coexisted. A place where history, literature, and the supernatural converged, forever preserving the legacy of Dublin’s haunted treasure in the heart of the city.

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Supernatural Dublin – Marsh’s Library

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St. Michan’s Church Vaults and the Irish Mummies

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Deep down in the vaults under the St. Michan’s Church in Ireland, there is a crypt filled with coffins of mummified corpses. Some of prominent families in the local area, and some nameless that are perhaps a millennial year old. 

Hidden behind Dublin’s Four Courts on Church Street, just a stone’s throw from the Jameson Distillery in Smithfield, stands St. Michan’s Church, an ancient place of worship with a history as chilling as it is rich in Dublin. 

Established in 1095 as a Norse chapel, this parish church holds the distinction of being the oldest on the northside of Dublin and that has a Viking foundation. Its rebuilt exterior, dating back to 1685, conceals a treasure trove of eerie secrets that beckon to those brave enough to explore its depths.

The Mummies in the Vault

Beneath the church’s hallowed grounds, a world of the macabre unfolds. Through imposing metal doors secured by chains and down a narrow stone stairway, visitors find themselves in burial vaults that cradle the mummified remains of Dublin’s most influential families from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

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The question that lingers in the minds of all who visit St. Michan’s crypts is how these bodies have been preserved for centuries. Some attribute it to the constant dry atmosphere, others to the limestone walls, and yet others to the mysterious methane gas seeping up from the damp ground beneath. Whatever the cause, the result is a chilling tableau of history frozen in time.

St. Michan’s Church Vaults: Underneath the old church from Norman viking times, there is a burial vault filled with mummified corpses that dates back almost a millenia ago.//Source: wikimedia

Family Feuds in Death

The vaults under  St. Michan’s Church was once the property of wealthy families, and this ownership extended even beyond the grave. Some coffins are elaborate, exuding opulence with gold accents and intricate designs. 

Venturing inside the individual vault under St. Michan’s Church cells reveals a haunting sight: coffins stacked haphazardly, generations of families laid atop one another as in anyone’s messy cupboard or room guests are not allowed to enter. 

Some of the coffins in the vault, unable to bear the weight of those above, have collapsed, leaving skeletal limbs protruding into the dim light.

Crypt’s Best-Known Residents

The vaults are home to legendary figures, including the Sheares brothers, republican revolutionaries who faced the gruesome fate of being hung, drawn, and quartered after their involvement in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. 

They were arrested on the eve of The Irish Rebellion of 1798, and executed at Newgate Prison. Now their mummified bodies have an eternal rest underneath St. Michan’s Church. At least so far. 

The Irish Rebels: The Sheares Brothers, Henry (1753–98), and John (1766–1798) were Irish lawyers and republicans. After witnessing revolutionary events in Paris, in 1793 they joined the Society of United Irishmen. They were arrested on the eve of the risings of 1798 and executed at Newgate Prison and buried and mummified in the vaults of St. Michan’s Church.

The Earls of Leitrim, their highly decorated coffins adorned with gold studs and ornate plaques, rest here alongside Wolfe Tone’s haunting death mask. But it is not necessarily the big names that have made St. Michan’s Church Vaults known, but rather the really old ones that no one really have a name for: 

The ‘Big Four’ in St. Michan’s Church

The most conspicuous occupants of the vaults are four mummified corpses displayed without coffin lids, each covered in a layer of dusty skin. These eerie figures, known as the Unknown, the Thief, the Nun, and the Crusader, appear shockingly lifelike despite being nearly a millennium old.

The Nun as well as The Unknown, are both women that we don’t really know much about. Who they were or how they died, it is all a mystery.

The Big Four: Some of the oldest mummies found in the burial vault is dubbed the big four as they have no names attached to themselves anymore. The Unknown, the Thief, the Nun, and the Crusader is now all exposed without their lids for anyone that chooses to visit the vaults.//Source: James Walsh/Flickr

The Crusader, a giant by the standards of his time, rests with his legs broken and crossed beneath him to fit within his casket. One of his hands stretches out, fingers slightly raised, a superstition claiming that those who touch his finger will be blessed with good fortune.

In 2019 the 800 year old Crusader’s head was actually decapitated and stolen, after a man in his 20s broke in and vandalized the vaults of St. Michan’s Church. 

“The Thief,” another mummy among the ‘Big Four,’ suffered a grisly fate, with his feet severed and his right forearm missing, supposedly as punishment for his crimes. While modern research has cast doubt on the authenticity of these stories, they continue to add an air of mystery to these chilling figures.

Echoes in the Darkness

But what about the rumors about the vaults being haunted? Who of these mummies are said to haunt their eternal resting place?

The Bram Stoker Connection: These burial vaults are just some of the places in Ireland htat Bram Stoker visited and found interesting. Could they have helped giving an inspiration to his writings?

Are these vaults truly inhabited by the restless spirits of the departed? Some certainly think so and since Victorian times, those daring enough to descend the vault steps have encountered the enigmatic St. Michan’s mummies.

Even Bram Stoker, the author of “Dracula,” is believed to have explored these crypts, as his family’s burial plot resides here. Some even claim that the macabre and haunted places in Ireland and its history helped him carve out the story of Dracula, perhaps more than even himself realized?

Over time, the legends and mystery keeps growing about what happened down in the crypts, in sort of the same macabre interest people have for the Catacombs in Paris for comparisons. What should be an eternal resting place for our ancestors, turns into something scary and dangerous for the living. 

Could the vaults underneath the ancient church of St. Michan’s Church in Dublin be haunted by the restless ghosts of the mummies? Could there be something vampiric going on behind the closed doors? The many legends and rumours only continue to grow as time passes and the mummies stay the same.

For those who seek eerie inspiration and eccentric sightseeing, St. Michan’s Church Vaults beckon, promising a spine-tingling adventure into the unknown. If you dare to court the supernatural, venture forth into this cryptic world—a place where history and the supernatural converge in a macabre dance that continues to captivate the curious and the brave.

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References:

Sheares brothers – Wikipedia 

https://thefairytaletraveler.com/2014/10/14/st-michans-church/

St. Michan’s Church, Dublin – Wikipedia 

Supernatural Dublin – St Michan’s Church Man arrested after 800-year-old skull stolen from St Michan’s Church in Dublin – Irish Mirror Online

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The Ghosts of Kilmainham Gaol

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In the old Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, there are still prisoners that never got out. Strange occurrences for those that have worked there, tells that the prison is haunted by the former inmates, and some of them are more dangerous than others. 

Dublin, a city steeped in history and rich in tales of the past, boasts many sites that have witnessed significant events. One such place is Kilmainham Gaol, a foreboding structure of a prison with a chilling history that extends beyond its closure in 1924. 

Although Europe’s largest unoccupied prison, Kilmainham Gaol has earned a reputation for its spectral inhabitants who continue to roam its corridors and cells. 

A Notorious History of a Haunted Prison

Kilmainham Gaol, situated in County Dublin, has a storied past dating back over 200 years. Built in 1796, the prison initially housed criminals from various backgrounds, but it is most famously associated with its role during Ireland’s fight for independence. The gaol became a symbol of oppression, as many of Ireland’s most prominent political and revolutionary figures were incarcerated within its grim confines.

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland

The prison was really made to be a better place to serve time than in the old gaol, however, it soon faced the same problem: overcrowding. This led to disease, poor hygiene and there wasn’t even a proper separation between the men, women and children serving time. 

Kilmainham Gaol: The old prison in Dublin was notorious for being overcrowded with horrible conditions for those serving time in the prison. The inmates that never escaped the bars are thought to be haunting the place to this day, and those visiting and working report on many strange experiences while inside of the gaol.

That meant those imprisoned for just stealing a loaf of bread because of hunger were thrown in with notorious murderers and rapist, and there was little to no help to avoid those that wanted to hurt you.

The cramped cells, imposing stone walls, and eerie silence that permeates the gaol today are chilling reminders of the past. Kilmainham Gaol’s significance lies not only in its role as a place of incarceration but also as a site of execution and public hangings that took place at its entrance.

The Haunting of Kilmainham Gaol

In 1960, the Kilmainham Gaol Restoration Committee was formed to preserve this historic site, but those involved in the restoration quickly found themselves entangled in paranormal phenomena. These eerie encounters have left a lasting impression on all who have attempted to breathe new life into the gaol’s history.

Governor Dan McGill, who resided in the old warden’s quarters while overseeing the restoration efforts, experienced one particularly chilling incident. One night, he was startled to see the lights in the old chapel suddenly turn on after he had just switched them off. Intrigued and unnerved, he ventured to the chapel, only to find it empty. Repeatedly turning off the lights and returning to his quarters, McGill was confused to see them inexplicably illuminate again when he peered out the window.

Other restoration workers shared equally spine-tingling experiences. One worker, tasked with renewing the Echoing Corridor, recounted hearing unexplained footsteps ascending the stone stairs and echoing through the hallway behind him. These eerie footsteps would cease, only to start again intermittently throughout the day.

Read More: Check out all of the Haunted Prisons around the world

In another instance, a worker heard approaching footsteps, but upon looking up, saw no one. The only evidence of a presence was an icy chill that enveloped the air. These spectral footsteps, reminiscent of a soldier’s brigade, were a recurring theme in the gaol’s unsettling history.

The Danger of the Ghost Haunting the Prison

There are not only vague signs of hauntings like a flickering light or the sound of footsteps that have been told in Kilmainham Gaol. In one instance, the supposed ghost turned violent:

One man claimed that while he was painting in the dungeon, he was thrown across the room and pinned to the wall by some kind of force he couldn’t see, nor touch. He struggled to get free and when he was able to escape he promised he would never return to that place ever again. 

Haunted Prison: While most of the haunting that are reported on inside of the prison seems to be vague, calm and hurts no one, there are stories about a force lingering in the prison that are so powerful and violent that they have caused people harm.

Who are the ghosts haunting the prison, long after their time is served? There have been no particular names, but it is believed to be a crowd of those that used to serve time there, and perhaps never got out again. 

Visit the Haunted Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol, with its chilling history and the lingering presence of restless spirits, remains a captivating and haunting site. Its role in the struggle for Irish independence has forever etched it into the annals of history, and the paranormal encounters reported during its restoration only add to its mystique.

Visitors to Kilmainham Gaol today can stand in the very places where Irish revolutionaries spent their final days, experience the eerie echoes of footsteps in echoing corridors, and perhaps even catch a glimpse of the spectral inhabitants who continue to call this imposing prison home. 

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References:

Kilmainham Gaol Dublin – A Haunting History | Authentic Vacations 

Kilmainham Gaol | Haunted Dublin, Ireland | Spirited Isle 

Prison Life | Kilmainham Gaol Museum

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The Mysterious Legends of Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill

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An old gentleman’s club became the center of satanic gossip and tales of animal and human sacrifices. The old lodge on Montpelier Hill is now mostly known for being the meeting place for the infamous Hellfire Club. 

For centuries, the Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill in Dublin has remained one of Ireland’s most haunted destinations, shrouded in mystery and surrounded by legends. This infamous hunting lodge, perched atop the Dublin Mountains, has been the site of countless tales of ghostly apparitions, satanic rituals, and otherworldly encounters. 

Despite its dark past, the Hellfire Club continues to draw in visitors from all over the world, curious to explore its eerie corridors and uncover the secrets hidden within its walls. From the notorious tales of the devil himself appearing in the guise of a nobleman to the chilling accounts of ghostly voices and unexplained noises, the Hellfire Club is a place that has fascinated and terrified people for generations. 

The Ancient Cairn of Standing Stones

The Hellfire Club is a ruined hunting lodge located on the summit of Montpelier Hill in the Dublin Mountains. Built in 1725, it was originally used as a hunting lodge by William Conolly, a wealthy politician and landowner. However, its association with the Irish Hellfire  Club, a notorious secret society of wealthy and influential men, has given it a dark and sinister reputation.

It used to be an ancient grave with a cairn of stones on the top of the Montpelier Hill. When Conolly built his hunting lodge there it is said he destroyed the cairn and used one of the standing stones as the lintel for his fireplace. 

Later the roof of the lodge was blown off during a storm and the locals were sure it was because of the destruction of the cairn. They believed that it had angered the spirits and they were seeking revenge. This was only the start of the many legends and tales that were told about the place. 

Introducing Hellfire Club

After Conolly died the lodge was sold and said to be the meeting place for the much talked about Irish Hellfire Club. One of these clubs was founded in 1735 by Richard Parson who was known for dabbling in black magic. 

The Hellfire Club Members: The Hellfire Club were originally a gentlemens club of the rich and powerful, and many thought they also dabbled in dark magic. Here are the Dublin club in 1735 ca. with Henry Barry, Col. Henry Clements, Col. Henry Ponsonby, Col. Richard St. George and Simon Luttrel.

The Hellfire Club is said to have been the site of many debauched and sacrilegious activities, including black masses, orgies, and even human sacrifice. It is also rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of those who died during these rituals, as well as the spirits of those who suffered at the hands of the Hellfire Club’s members.

The History of Hellfire Club

The history of the Hellfire Club is a murky one, shrouded in myth and legend. According to some accounts, the club was founded in the early 18th century by a group of wealthy and influential men who were interested in the occult and other taboo subjects. They are said to have held secret meetings and conducted bizarre rituals at the Hellfire Club, which was then known as the Montpelier Lodge.

There were several clubs like these across England and Ireland, and many well known names throughout time have been connected to it. Whether it was merely a club for drinking and gambling or a satanic cult with hellish rituals is uncertain, but it certainly was an exclusive men’s club for the rich and privileged with too much time on their hands.

One true story is when one of the members, Baron Barry of Santry, set one of his servants on fire by pouring brandy on him and lighting him on fire. He was used to pay people for their silence, but this case was taken to trial and convicted of this and stabbing another servant to death. He was protected by his powerful friends though and spent the rest of his life in England. The secret club ended up in the public eye though, and none of the stories were good ones. 

Legends and myths surrounding Montpelier Hill

The Hellfire Club is steeped in legend and myth, with many tales of supernatural occurrences and otherworldly encounters. One of the most famous legends concerns the appearance of the devil himself at the club. 

Montpelier Hill: Here from the hunting lodge at Montpelier Hill in Dublin, were the Hellfire Club had meetings and many of the stories of dark rituals and the likes comes from. //Source: Joe King/Wikimedia

According to this story, the devil appeared at the club in the guise of a nobleman and was invited to play cards with the members. During the game, one of the players dropped a card on the floor and, when he went to retrieve it, saw that the devil had cloven hooves instead of feet. This tale has become one of the most enduring legends associated with the Hellfire  Club.

This legend follows the same plot as the haunted ghost story from Loftus Hall, another of Ireland’s most haunted places. 

The Farmer Witnessing the Dark Rituals

Many of the legends are about what happens when the locals and the lower class witnesses what they are up to in the lodge. It never ends in anything but misery for those who seeks them out. 

One time, a young farmer was said to be curious about what went on in the club and decided to climb up Montepelier Hill to uncover their secrets. He was invited in by the members and the next day he was found terrified and trembling. 

For the rest of his life the unfortunate farmer was unable to speak, wouldn’t tell what he saw at the Hellfire Club and couldn’t even remember his own name. 

The Black Cat Sacrifice

Another story goes that a young man was found dead after he tried to uncover what went on in the club. His local priest and the young man’s host believed he was murdered and decided to investigate the matter. 

When they arrived at the lodge, they saw a huge banquet and a huge cat in the room with its ears shaped like horns. The priest carried a bottle of holy water and tried to perform an exorcism on the creature. 

Why the cat was there is not certain. In some versions, it was some sort of beast, in other versions, the cat was going to become a sacrifice in one of The Hellfire Clubs satanic rituals. 

He managed to kill the beast with holy water, but outside was the host laying dead on the ground, his face and neck scratched by claws. 

This particular legend is also connected to the Dower House that is further down the hill. The Hellfire Club is said to have started to hold meetings there after a fire damaged the original hunting lodge.

The Fire and Decline of the Hellfire Club

During a certain period, the building in question suffered damage from a fire, and there are various stories associated with this event. One account suggests that the club deliberately set fire to the building when William Conolly’s son declined to renew the lodge’s lease. Another tale proposes that the club members ignited the fire to create a sinister and eerie appearance for the building.

Additionally, there are some that claim that the house was damaged when the servant was set fire to. This allegedly happened during a black mass where a footman accidentally spilled a drink on “Burn-Chapel” Whaley’s coat. In retaliation, Whaley doused the man with brandy, causing him to catch fire. The fire subsequently spread throughout the building, resulting in the deaths of several members. Following the fire, the club moved to a new location, the Killakee Dower House further down the hill. Nevertheless, the club’s activities dwindled after this incident.

The Endurance of The Legends of the Hellfire Club

The Hellfire Club remains one of Ireland’s most haunted destinations, steeped in mystery and surrounded by legends. Despite its dark past, it continues to draw in visitors from all over the world, curious to explore its eerie ruins and uncover the secrets hidden within its walls. 

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References:

Featured Image: Joe King/Wikimedia

Supernatural Dublin – The Hellfire Club 

Montpelier Hill – Wikipedia