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The Spirits at Rosses Point on the Rugged Shores

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Smugglers, Pirates, Fairies and ghosts, they all linger in the shallow water at Rosses Point. A place where the Irish writer Yeats even claimed had to be one of the most haunted places in Ireland. 

Ireland’s lush landscapes have long been intertwined with tales of the supernatural. While ancient castles and grand manors often take center stage in ghostly stories, the restless spirits of Sligo have found their haunt in the untamed beauty of Rosses Point, a coastal gem in County Sligo.

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Rosses Point is at the entrance to Sligo Harbour where many people from the sea met their end. With its rugged cliffs, windswept shores, and mesmerizing sea views, has become a favored haunt for these ethereal beings.

The Hauntings at Rosses Point

Sligo Bay has witnessed over 60 shipwrecks throughout history and many think that the victims of the wrecks are haunting the bay to this day. 

Rosses Point: The entire area is said to be haunted by the wrecked sailors that met a watery grave off the coast of Rosses Point and Sligo Bay.

Among the souls lost to the tempestuous Atlantic Ocean, many were seafarers and pirates with regrets and lost treasures. It’s no wonder that the restless spirits chose this coastal haven as their final resting place.

One of the more haunted places we know of here is the smugglers’ den, Elsinor House, that the writer Yeats used to stay in. 

Yeats’ Connection at Elsinor House

Rosses Point enjoys a poetic connection to the legendary W.B. Yeats, who claimed that nowhere else held as many spirits as this coastal haven. Yeats was himself very interested in the paranormal and ghost stories.

As a young boy, Yeats spent summers at Elsinor House, a residence that once belonged to his grandparents together with his brother. The house was built by the smuggler John Black or Black Jack. The house is still standing, but now the house has fallen into disrepair. 

Elsinor House: The old house was after stories, built as a smugglers den, but ended up being a quaint summer house, although it came with haunted rumours. Today the house has fallen into disrepair.

Here, he would have listened to the haunting tales of the souls lost to the unforgiving sea, stories that would later inspire his own poetic musings. One of the stories from the house is that it is haunted by the smugglers that once used to come to this place with their goods. 

According to the ghost stories, the ghost of the smugglers that died at sea comes at night, tapping on the windows, only shadows in the stormy night outside the windows. 

Dead Man’s Point

Among the chilling tales of Rosses Point, one stands out—the origin of its eerie name, Dead Man’s Point at the very tip of the point before it, nothing else but the Atlantic Sea. 

Legend has it that a sailor was laid to rest in a shallow grave, but doubt lingered as to whether he was truly deceased. In a macabre twist, the captain decided to leave the comrade a loaf of bread and a shovel alongside the grave, just in case the sailor awoke from his slumber in the afterlife.

As you wander along the windswept shores of Rosses Point and gaze out across the mighty Atlantic, remember that the beauty of Ireland’s coastlines is not merely skin deep. Beneath the crashing waves and whispering sea breeze lies a world where the spirits of seafarers and pirates roam freely, keeping a watchful eye on the untamed shores they once called home.

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References:

Rosses Point – Wikipedia 

Rosses Point History and Folklore

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The Ghosts of the Spanish Armada Stranded at Staad Abbey

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After the Spanish Armada were set ablaze in the North Sea, some of the soldiers sought refuge at Staad Abbey in Sligo, Ireland. However, many of them met a haunting fate. 

In the rugged embrace of County Sligo’s Atlantic coastline, history and the supernatural converge at the enigmatic Staad Abbey. This weathered relic from the early medieval period, now a haunting ruin, whispers tales of pilgrimage, tragedy, and apparitions that linger in the depths of time.

The name “Staad” is of Gaelic origins, meaning “stop.” In times gone by, this abbey served as a crucial waypoint for weary pilgrims en route to the nearby Inishmurray Island. Staad Abbey is an early monastic site from the late 5th or early 6th century, reputedly founded by the monk, St Molaise. You can find the ruins of the old abbey in Agharrow, County Sligo, right on the cliff above the beach there.

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

Staad Abbey can also be called a shore hostel, for travelers to stay in on their journey before venturing to Inishmurray by boat.

Ghosts of Spanish Soldiers

While the abbey’s history is imbued with the essence of spiritual seekers, it is also shrouded in a more sinister narrative. Local lore tells of the restless spirits of executed Spanish soldiers who now call this ruined abbey home. 

Staad Abbey: Only a few rubble stone is left from this ancient monument now.// Source: IrishPost

They came on a ship from the Spanish Armada in 1588 that was passing the Irish coast after rounding the north of Scotland. 

The Spanish Armada

The Spanish Armada was a formidable naval force consisting of approximately 130 ships, over 8,000 seamen, and around 18,000 soldiers, with about 40 warships among them. The Spanish plan was for this massive fleet, known as the “Great and Most Fortunate Navy,” to sail from Lisbon. The combined forces would then cross the English Channel to launch an overland offensive against London.

In May 1588, the Spanish Armada set sail from Lisbon. The English, desperate to prevent this, devised a plan involving fireships. At midnight on August 8, they set eight empty vessels on fire and allowed them to drift toward the Spanish fleet at Calais Roads. This caused panic among the Armada, forcing them to flee to the open sea.

The Spanish Armada: Defeat of the Spanish Armada, history painting by Philippe-Jacques de Loutherbourg (1796)

The Armada, now facing bad weather, was carried into the North Sea, preventing the rendezvous with Parma’s army. With supplies running low and disease spreading, the Duke of Medina-Sidonia decided to return to Spain via Scotland and Ireland. During the journey home, the Armada was ravaged by sea storms, leading to the loss of around 60 of its 130 ships and approximately 15,000 lives.

The treacherous Atlantic Ocean has claimed many a ship, but one of the most infamous tragedies unfolded in 1588 when the Spanish Armada met its demise off the shores of Streedagh Beach, near Staad Abbey. Over 1,000 souls perished in the relentless tempests, and among the survivors, despair mingled with hope.

The Spanish Soldier at Staad Abbey

Unfortunately, the survivors of the Armada’s ill-fated expedition did not find refuge but instead faced a grim fate. In the backdrop of the British occupation of Ireland, these Spanish soldiers, considered enemies of the realm, were captured and subjected to a ruthless judgment.

One of the survivors was Francisco de Cuellar. A few months after surviving the sinking of the Spanish Armada ship La Lavia on Streedagh Beach, Francisco de Cuellar sought refuge in Staad Abbey in 1588. Upon his arrival, he discovered that the church was partially burned, and he saw twelve Spaniards hanged from the rafters. He had encountered hundreds dead soldiers on the nearby beaches as well.

De Cuellar stayed at Staad Abbey for a few weeks before fleeing again. There is some debate about whether it was actually Staad Abbey he visited or another medieval church in the vicinity, possibly Ahamlish Church, located just north of Streedagh, where the ships from the Spanish Armada sank.

The Sinking Haunted Ruins

It is said that the desolation of Staad Abbey is not confined to its crumbling stones and windswept arches. Visitors have reported an eerie, bone-chilling coldness that hangs in the air. 

Shadows dance along the walls, seemingly floating across the ancient stones, evoking the memory of those ill-fated Spanish soldiers who met their end at this lonely ruin.

As you stand amidst the solemn ruins of Staad Abbey which are slowly being eroded away, the whispers of the past beckon, inviting you to contemplate the pilgrims’ journey, the tragic shipwrecks, and the ghosts that may still linger among the timeless stones. Soon it can be too late as the abbey itself is close to collapsing as it edges closer to the cliffs for every storm. 

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References:

Staad Abbey 

County Sligo: 5 Haunted Places To Visit | Spooky Isles 

Sligo medieval church that once housed remnants of Spanish Armada perilously close to collapsing off cliff | The Irish Post

Spanish Armada – Defeat & Definition 

Francisco de Cuellar – Wikipedia 

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Tales of Ghosts and Monsters at Scattery Island

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Scattery Island has many legends about it. There are dangerous sea monsters, healing waters and ghosts from the monks and priests that lived in the monasteries there. 

Off the coast of Kilrush in County Clare, nestled amidst the tumultuous waves of the Atlantic Ocean, lies Scattery Island. This idyllic isle that is called Inis Cathaigh in Irish, conceals secrets that echo through the annals of time, from tales of sea monsters to ancient legends of saints and spectral apparitions that gave name to this mystical island. 

The Monstrous Cathach

Before the dawn of the sixth century, Scattery Island was a place shrouded in fear, as its inhabitants lived under the ominous shadow of a sea monster known as the Cathach. This malevolent creature, a Peist of unimaginable dread, terrorized the islanders. 

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Legend tells of a divine intervention by Saint Senan, a holy figure who would change the destiny of Scattery Island. According to the ancient tales, Saint Senan received a celestial visitation from the Archangel Michael. This heavenly messenger bestowed upon him the knowledge and power to banish the wicked Cathach from the island.

Sea Serpent: At Scattery Island there is stories about a vicious sea serpent that plagued the area for a long time. Pictured is a sea serpent from Olaus Magnus’ book Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus (History of the Northern Peoples, Rome, 1555).

Saint Senan confronted the Cathach, invoking the name of the Holy Trinity. He commanded the malevolent creature to depart from the island, never to return. The powers of divine intervention prevailed, and the Cathach was banished from Scattery Island, cast into the depths of the Black Lake in County Mayo.

Monasteries and a Healing Well

Saint Senan’s divine presence left an indelible mark on Scattery Island. He founded monasteries that thrived through the ages, bearing witness to his miraculous deeds. To this day, a visit to the grave of Saint Senan is believed to possess the power of healing, where the faithful seek solace and renewal.

There was a rule that no woman should ever set foot upon the grounds. There are also legends about miracles and magical water that could cure anything in the Holy Well. Even Saint Senan’s grave on the site is said to have healing powers to those that visited it. 

Over the years, vikings attacked and the monasteries were abandoned during Elizabeth I’st reign, leaving it empty, except from ghosts. 

A Fisherman’s Haunting Tale

It has always been a place of mystery, even without the tales of the sea serpent. When the Captains of the Shannons and their families inhabited the island again in the 1800s, they were the only people in the area that were somewhat spared from the Famine, and because of this, many thought there had to be something special about the place. 

Scattery Island: //Source: Matthew Petroff/Flickr

It is also thought to be a haunted place, something we are told about in the legend where a fisherman sought refuge on the island in a storm in the 19th century. 

He entered the ruins of an ancient church to offer his prayers, seeking divine protection from the fury of the storm. As he knelt in solemn devotion and closed his eyes, an eerie transformation occurred. The air seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly presence as the disembodied voices of monks and priests filled the hallowed space. Oblivious to the fisherman’s presence, they celebrated mass at the altar, a spectral congregation from a distant time.

The fisherman’s heart raced with terror, realizing that he had unwittingly stumbled upon a supernatural realm. Overwhelmed, he closed his eyes once more and fervently prayed for their departure. When he dared to open his eyes again, the ghostly apparitions had vanished into the ethereal mist, leaving behind an island steeped in history and haunting mysteries.

Scattery Island Enigmatic Legacy

Scattery Island, a place where sea monsters met their match in a saint’s unwavering faith, and where the echoes of ancient monks’ chants linger in the air, stands as a testament to Ireland’s rich tapestry of history, myth, and the supernatural. 

The last person living on the island moved in the 1970s, and churches, monasteries and even a castle were left in the ghost town. The enigmatic island beckons the curious to explore its haunted shores, where the past and the spectral converge in a realm of haunting beauty and timeless wonder.

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References:

Beware the haunted side of Clare 

County Clare: 5 Haunted Places To Visit | Spooky Isles 

Inis Cathaigh – Wikipedia

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The Haunting Tale of the Mermaid’s Curse of Newhall House and Killone Lake

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A curse of a mermaid is cast upon Newhall House after they murdered her after she stole their wine. Now the water of Killone Lake turn crimson red every 40 years to remind them all.

On the edge of the picturesque Killone Lake, within the Newhall Estate near Ennis, County Clare, stands the haunting ruins of Killone Abbey. Founded in the year 1180 AD by Donal Mor O’Brien, the King of Munster, this ancient abbey once housed the Augustinian nuns dedicated to St. John the Baptist. 

However, as the centuries passed, its halls fell silent, and it became abandoned during the tumultuous seventeenth century. In the late 1700s, the Newhall House emerged on the estate’s grounds, incorporating the ruins of the abbey into it.

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

There have been many things told about this area, and in the graveyard in County Clare, they talked about corpse lights, or so called will of the wisps, hovering in the cemetery as well as by the ruins of the abbey. 

But the most told legend from Killone lake and the Newhall House is the story about the haunting from the mermaid that put a curse on the lake. 

The Crypt’s Stolen Wine at Newhall House

During this era, the crypt of Killone Abbey had been repurposed to store a prized treasure—fine wine by the O’Brian family that resided in the Newhall House close to the lake. 

The locals had told him a lot about a mermaid that lived in the lake. She was wearing a green cloak, sitting on a rock and combing her long and black hair. O’Brian laughed at this, and didn’t care about the local superstitions and the poor people that lived around him. He only cared about his riches, his sport and his fine wine. 

The Mermaid Thief of Killone Lake

A vigilant servant, tasked with guarding this valuable cache of wine in the basement, made a disconcerting discovery: the wine had begun to vanish mysteriously, bottle by bottle. Determined to solve the perplexing riddle, he stood sentinel within the crypt, clutching a knife in anticipation of the thief’s arrival.

The Crypt of Killone Abbey: Underneath the ruins of the abbey, they used the crypt to store the wine.

As the veil of darkness descended upon Killone Lake, the crypt’s stealthy intruder revealed herself, and the servant’s eyes widened in disbelief. Before him stood none other than the elusive mermaid of Killone Lake. 

Enraged by the audacious theft, the servant launched a frenzied attack upon the mermaid, his knife plunging into her repeatedly. Sometimes it is said that it was O’Brian himself that killed her. With each piercing blow, her life force dwindled, and she struggled to escape his vengeful wrath. Bleeding and weakened, the mermaid dragged herself toward the water’s edge, where her strength ultimately failed her, and she succumbed to her injuries.

The Crimson Waters: The Mark of the Curse

As the mermaid’s life ebbed away, her blood mingled with the tranquil waters of Killone Lake, transforming its serene surface into a ghastly crimson hue. This macabre spectacle unfolded in the obsidian shroud of night, etching the lake’s eerie transformation into the annals of local legend.

Before dying though, she cursed the family:

Killone Lake: In the cemetery there are reported about strange lights, and the lake is haunted by a mermaid. //Wikimedia

Filedhan bhradráin on sruith,
File gan fuil gan feoil,
Gur ba mar sin imtheochas siol mBriain,
Na ndeasacha fiadh as Chilleóin.

As the return of the salmon from the stream,
A return without blood or flesh,
May such be the departure of the O’Briens,
Like ears of wild corn from Killeoin

– The Curse of the Mermaid: A Chilling Legacy

The legacy of the mermaid endures to this day, casting a haunting shadow over Killone Lake. It is foretold that once every forty years or upon the changing of ownership of Newhall Estate, the lake’s waters shall mysteriously turn crimson once more. 

The legend about the mermaid has been told many times and made into songs and stories like with The Ballad of Killone. There are many version of the legend as well. Some say that O’Brian actually took her because he found her pretty and kept her imprisoned as she didn’t want to talk or be with him. To make her talk they threw scalding water on her and she cried out her curse.

Whether this phenomenon is the result of iron shale or the lingering curse of the vengeful mermaid, the ruins of Killone Abbey and the enigmatic lake invite brave souls to unlock their secrets and bear witness to the eerie tale that has haunted the land for centuries.

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Mermaid of Killone 

Killone Abbey, Clare, Ireland | Visions Of The Past 

County Clare: 5 Haunted Places To Visit | Spooky Isles 

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The Lost City of Kilstuitheen at The Cliffs of Moher

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In the watery depths off the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, it is said that the phantom island and The Lost City of Kilstuitheen appears every seven years. There are still legends that it will return for those that holds the key.

Between the picturesque towns of Lahinch and Spanish Point lies the Liscannor Bay. Its tranquil surface hints at the mysteries concealed beneath its waters, and one of its most intriguing enigmas is the phantom island and The Lost City of Kilstuitheen. 

The coastline of County Clare has been shaped by nature’s fury over millennia. Ancient earthquakes and tidal waves have left their mark on this rugged terrain. In the bay’s vicinity, once-verdant forests and bogs have become submerged, and the dramatic events of centuries past split Mutton Island into three separate isles during the tsunami of approximately 800 AD.

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This could explain the legends of the lost city of Kilstuitheen. It is also called Kilstapheen, Kilstiffen or Cill Stuifin and is supposedly an ancient city that is now lost outside the coast. It is said that the city sank down into the ocean when the chieftain lost its golden key in a battle. According to the legend, the city will not return until the key is found. 

The Cliffs of Moher: The cliffs are well known for its legends. In addition for the legends about the lost city, there are also legends about mermaids, witches, a corpse eating eel as well were the pagan deities took refuge when Christianity came to Ireland.

The Lost City of Kilstuitheen’s Forgotten Splendor

Long ago according to legend, the city of Kilstuitheen was a place of unparalleled magnificence and riches. Its skyline was adorned with golden turrets that graced castles and glistening spires that adorned churches. These structures were a testament to the prosperity of its inhabitants, particularly the Chieftain and his esteemed clan.

However, even the most prosperous of places can succumb to the capricious whims of fate. Kilstuitheen’s fortunes took a dire turn when defeat befell the Chieftain in a fierce battle. What followed was a calamity of epic proportions—an immense tidal wave surged forth, engulfing the island and all its inhabitants. The once-mighty Kilstuitheen lay buried beneath the turbulent waters, its glory swallowed by the relentless sea.

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There is a legend telling how to find the island though. It used to be a key which opened the door  that the chieftain had lost during the fateful battle. It was later believed to be entombed beneath a towering monolith on Mount Callan.

When the long-lost golden key is unearthed and returned to its rightful place, it is said that Kilstuitheen shall rise once more from the depths of the sea. The valiant Chieftain, now relegated to the annals of history, will reawaken to lead his people anew, and the island’s golden splendor will once again grace the surface.

Glimpses of a Submerged City

Over the centuries, fishermen have claimed to catch fleeting glimpses of The Lost City of Kilstuitheen’s submerged city beneath the restless waves of Liscannor Bay. Every seven years, the phantom island performs a tantalizing upsurge, just enough to be visible from the shores of Lahinch. 

This is also the case with the mythical phantom island of Brasil said to be off the coast of Ireland as well. 

However, this remarkable sighting comes with a dire warning: those who behold the lost island from the shore shall not live to witness its reemergence and will die before The Lost City of Kilstuitheen appears again.

The Mysteries Beneath the Waves

As we ponder the legends of Kilstuitheen and its submerged treasures, we are reminded that the sea has long been a capricious mistress, capable of concealing the most remarkable of secrets. In the heart of Liscannor Bay, The Lost City of Kilstuitheen’s lost splendor lies beneath the waves, its golden turrets and spires hidden, awaiting the return of the golden key that may one day resurrect its glory. The enigma of Kilstuitheen endures as a testament to the enduring mysteries of Ireland’s coastal landscapes, where legends and history are eternally intertwined.

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A Legend of the Cliffs of Moher – The Lost City of Kilstiffen > What Boundaries? Live Your Dream! County Clare: 5 Haunted Places To Visit | Spooky Isles

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The Sinking of the RMS Lusitania and the Ghosts Washed Ashore

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In 1915 the RMS Lusitania was heading to Liverpool, but only reached the Irish coast as it was torpedoed by German forces. On the shore where the dead were washed ashore, their ghosts seem to linger in the cemetery and the hotel where the injured were brought. 

In the annals of maritime history, few stories are as haunting as that of the RMS Lusitania. A luxury vessel of her time, she was not merely a ship; she was a symbol of opulence and luxury, afloat in the tumultuous waters of World War I. Her tragic tale, marked by a German U-boat’s ruthless attack, has left an indelible mark on history—and perhaps, on the realm of the supernatural.

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In the throes of World War I, the Lusitania was more than just another ocean liner; she was a prized target for German forces. So much so, in fact, that the German embassy took the extraordinary step of placing warnings in 50 American newspapers, advising potential passengers not to travel on this vessel. 

Despite these ominous advisories, courage and curiosity prevailed, and on the fateful day of May 1, 1915, passengers and crew alike boarded the Lusitania, from New York bound for Liverpool.

The Sinking of RMS Lusitania

The RMS Lusitania was carrying 1,266 passengers and a crew of 696, totaling 1,962 people. At 2:10 pm, the Lusitania crossed paths with the German U-boat U-20. Due to the liner’s high speed, some consider the encounter to be coincidental, as U-20 would have had difficulty catching the fast vessel otherwise.

The U-boat fired one torpedo at the RMS Lusitania, striking it on the starboard bow, just beneath the wheelhouse. Moments later, a second explosion erupted from within the ship’s hull at the point of impact.

The vessel began to sink rapidly, listing to starboard. Crew members hurried to launch lifeboats, but the sinking conditions made it extremely challenging, and many lifeboats capsized or broke apart. Only 6 out of 48 lifeboats were successfully launched.

Eighteen minutes after the torpedo hit, the ship’s trim leveled out, and it disappeared beneath the waves, with the funnels and masts being the last visible parts. Chaos reigned as the ship rapidly descended into the abyss, leaving only a handful of lifeboats to brave the frigid waters

Tragically, of the 1,962 people aboard the RMS Lusitania, 1,199 lost their lives. Heroic acts by survivors and Irish rescuers brought the survivor count to 764, although three later succumbed to injuries sustained during the sinking.

The Eerie Remnants: Queenstown

In the aftermath of this devastating event, the town of Queenstown, now known as Cobh, bore witness to a somber spectacle. The bodies of the few survivors and many victims either washed ashore or were brought to the town. 

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In the Old Church Cemetery, nestled on the outskirts of Cobh, nearly 200 of the RMS Lusitania’s ill-fated passengers found their final resting place in both mass and individual graves.

The Sinking of RMS Lusitania: The ship was Torpedoed by German U-boat U-20 and sank on Friday 7 May 1915. The wreck lies approximately 11 mi (18 km) off the Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse in 305 ft (93 m) of water. The dead passengers from the ship is said to be haunting the city of Cobh.

It is here, amid the gravestones and fading memories of the RMS Lusitania’s passengers, that the veil between the living and the departed seems to thin. Witnesses from diverse sections of the community, including the enigmatic White Witch of Cobh and a Grave Inspector, have recounted eerie experiences.

The White Witch of Cobh

But who is this white witch that supposedly makes people believe in her words of hauntings? Her name is Ms Helen Barrett and is a 5th generation witch. Out of the 3 500 witches in Ireland, there is supposedly only one that outranks her in Kerry. 

She is mostly known for her fortune telling and magic spells like whistling up a wind, but she also has claimed to have seen some of the ghosts that are said to haunt her city. She has among other things claimed to have foretold Princess Diana’s death as well as the start of the world ending in 2012. 

The Haunted Funeral Procession

Foremost among these accounts is the chilling sound of a mass funeral procession for the Lusitania’s victims that took place on the 10th of May in 1915. Most people that claim to have experienced this have talked about hearing hushed voices as well as the sound of footsteps along the cemetery wall. 

The White Witch herself claims to have “seen” it unfold, a spectral spectacle that haunts the imagination.

The Haunted Cemetery: Several people of Cobh have claimed to have seen a ghostly funeral procession of the victims from the ship in the cemetery.

These mournful echoes of the past have perplexed onlookers, leading them to believe that a funeral procession was approaching, only to find an empty road. It is as though the spirits of the Lusitania’s passengers still gather to remember their untimely end, leaving an enduring and haunting legacy in the hallowed grounds of the Old Church Cemetery in Cobh, Ireland.

The Hauntings at Commodore Hotel

In Cobh there was a hotel when the ship went down that was originally known as The Queens Hotel and is still in operation. It was run by a German and the entire Humbert family had to hide in the basement because of the angry mob that gathered outside.  

At the time when RMS Lusitania were torpedoed, many of the survivors were taken to the hotel where they treated the wounded and stored the dead to appease the angry flock of people.

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It is said that this gave an imprint in the hotel, and many of the unexplained noises and sightings have been said to be because of the ghosts of the victims. 

This is however not the only ghosts haunting the hotel according to legends though, and the hotel is also said to be haunted by a british soldier who took his own life there and the ghost of a baby that was supposedly left in a suitcase there. 

The Tragic Haunting from RMS Lusitania

The haunting tale of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania and the ghosts washed ashore is one that resonates with the depths of history. As time passes, these spirits continue to linger, their presence felt in the eerie whispers of the Old Church Cemetery and the haunted halls of the Commodore Hotel.

As the years pass, the tragic haunting from the RMS Lusitania serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war, a testament to the resilience of spirits lingering on. The stories of these lost souls continue to captivate, reminding us of the mysterious and enduring connections between the world of the living and the realm of the departed.

We can only wonder if these restless spirits will ever find peace, or if their presence will continue to be felt by those who venture into the hallowed grounds of Cobh and the haunted halls of the Commodore Hotel.

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References:

Cobh, Ireland: Top 5 Haunted Places To Visit | Spooky Isles 

Commodore Hotel | Haunted Cork, Ireland | Spirited Isle 

https://darkemeraldtales.com/2015/05/05/ghosts-of-rms-lusitania-and-the-port-of-cobh/ Witch of Cobh says she foresaw the death of Diana – The Irish Times

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The Haunting of Ballyheigue Castle and the Tale of Lost Treasure

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One dark night, a Danish ship wrecked not far from Ballyheigue Castle. The ship carried silver and during a raid of the castle, the treasure was lost. What was the real reason for the ship being wrecked, and who was the ghostly figure in a picture taken centuries later?

On the Atlantic coast of Eire, in the serene village of Ballyheigue, stands the enigmatic Ballyheigue Castle. Conceived by the visionary architect Richard Morrison in 1810, this grand mansion was once the proud abode of the illustrious Crosbie family in its Tudor-gothic-revival style. 

Today, it stands as a mere shell of ruins as many of the old Irish castles and mansions, embraced by the lush green expanse of a golf course that was built in 1996.

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From 1890, parts of the castle were used as a Royal Irish Constabulary station. May 27, 1921, it succumbed to the flames of the Irish War of Independence, a casualty in the battle against British Imperialism. This was not so uncommon during this time, and many of the old castles and big houses met the same fate. 

Ballyheigue Castle: Now only the ruins stands of the former castle on what is now used as a golf course. It is believed that a ghost is haunting the place as strange figures have showed up on pictures of those visiting. //Source: Wikimedia

It is said that, before the castle met its fiery end, the community rallied to plunder its contents, an act of defiance before the torch was applied. What is true though is that only ruins and ghost stories are now left.

The Ghosts of Ballyheigue Castle

Ballyheigue, pronounced “baleyhigh,” bears the weight of its storied past, once a haven for smugglers who roamed the treacherous Irish coast. This comes to show in the ghost stories and legends.

In June 1962, Captain P. D. O’Donnell and his family went on a holiday in Ballyheigue. O’Donnell, later recounting his experiences in the ‘Ireland of the Welcomes’ magazine, published by Bord Failte Eireann (the Irish Tourist Board), unveiled a chilling chapter of Ballyheigue Castle’s history.

One afternoon during their stay, O’Donnell and his eight-year-old son, Frank, ventured into the crumbling remnants of Ballyheigue Castle. This once-proud fortress had belonged to the Crosbie family, who had wielded power over County Kerry for generations. After thorough exploration of the castle’s ruins, O’Donnell captured several photographs of the decaying walls before going home and developing his holiday pictures.

Curiously, upon developing the photographs, one image revealed an anomaly—a mysterious figure standing in one of the windows. This spectral presence held a sword and appeared dressed in what looked to be a sailors outfit. After checking out what they could, they concluded that this was no result of double exposure.

Alas, the sole print of this haunting photograph, along with the negative, vanished when he sent it to a friend. Despite extensive efforts, including newspaper advertisements and printed leaflets offering substantial rewards, the elusive image remained lost. 

Strangely, offers to purchase the Danish rights to the photograph poured in, even from as far afield as Copenhagen. Why were the Danes so intrigued by a ghostly picture?

The Wreckers of the Coast

As recounted in the ancient chronicles of Kerry, the Danish ship Golden Lyon, part of the Danish Asiatic Company’s fleet en route from Copenhagen to Tranquebar, was wrecked on Ballyheigue beach on October 30, 1730. 

The relentless fury of a storm had cast the ship off course, rendering it vulnerable to the opportunistic Crosbies—so the legends say. Dark tales persist of the Crosbies employing false lights attached to the heads of horses, drawing unsuspecting ships into perilous waters. This was done so the people on land could ‘salvage’ the goods the ships were carrying.  

Ballyheigue Beach: This is the beach that the Danish ship carrying silver wrecked. Perhaps on purpose on those on the beach coming from the castle. //Source: Wikimedia

Sailors on the ships at night were deceived by the bobbing lights that seemed to signal safe passage, and found themselves shipwrecked among the unforgiving Atlantic breakers.

People who did this were called ‘Wreckers’, and was a common story told across the coast and feared the same way ships feared pirates. There are also tales that the crews of these ships were slaughtered to leave no witnesses. 

Common law back then was that the goods from shipwrecks belonged to those residing on the shore it drifted in from and it could be a highly lucrative business of ships coming from far and bringing with them treasures and other goods. 

The Twelve Chests of Silver

The crew of the ill-fated Golden Lyon faced an unforeseen rescue mission, orchestrated by Sir Thomas Crosbie and his cohorts coming from Ballyheigue Castle. Amid the wreckage, they salvaged a substantial portion of the Danish ship’s cargo, including a cache of silver bars and coins concealed within twelve chests. 

The crew were welcomed to the Crosbies and stayed at Ballyheigue Castle. Did the Crosbies really wreck the ship on purpose? Or were they actually the helpful locals they posed as? It wasn’t long before Sir Thomas met an untimely demise, some suspecting poison at the hands of his own wife.

Lady Margaret, widow of Sir Thomas Crosbie, laid claim to a staggering £4,300.00 (equivalent to a princely £110,800.00 today) from Captain J. Heitman, master of the Danish ship, citing it as salvage and compensation for her husband’s demise, attributing him dying to the “labors and exertions on the night of the wreck.” Fearing for the safety of his twelve chests of silver, Captain Heitman transported them to the castle’s cellar, stationing a vigilant guard at the entrance until he could arrange for their return to Denmark.

The Raiding of the Castle

Soon after, there was a raid on Ballyheigue Castle and the chests of silver vanished under the cover of night. Authorities managed to recover a meager £5,000.00 of the total £20,000.00 worth of silver.

Lady Margaret’s name hovered ominously over the shadows of suspicion of her orchestrating the raid, yet she vehemently denied any involvement. Today, local legends weave intricate tales of the whereabouts of the stolen silver.

It is said that one of the sailors standing guard tried to stop the robbery of the chests, but was killed in the process. Could this be the ghost seen in the picture from Ballyheigue Castle O’Donnell saw?

The Death Anniversary of the Ghost

What is also an interesting, and perhaps a creepy fact is the date the picture was taken. Historical records chronicle the Danish Silver Raid transpiring on June 4, 1731. O’Donnell’s photograph of the phantom sailor was taken on June 4, 1962—was it a spectral tribute to this ominous anniversary?

Another legend of the castle is that the silver in fact, never left the building. According to this story, the stolen silver is still underground and the sailor is trying to let us know. Perhaps one day another one will be shown to were it is, who knows, perhaps it will once again be on the anniversary of his death? 

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References:

Ballyheigue Castle – Mysterious Britain & Ireland 

Ballyheigue Castle – Wikipedia 

Salvage Tradition, Law and Lore – Irish Maritime History 

(PDF) The Ghost of Ballyheigue Castle | Francis Martin O’Donnell – Academia.edu 

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Cabra Castle and the Ghost of the Poor Servant Girl

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At the old Cabra Castle, once known as Cormey Castle, it is said that the ghost of an unfortunate servant girl is haunting it’s hall. She was brutally murdered by the castle owners when they found out she was bearing one of the heirs’ children. 

In the heart of Kingscourt, Co. Cavan, stands Cabra Castle—a place where history, beauty, and the supernatural intertwine, casting an enchanting but eerie spell close to the Dún a Rí Forest . 

Cabra Castle is given to two castles in this area. One is now only ruins, the other one is turned into a luxury hotel. The centuries-old castle has captured the imagination of travelers and ghost enthusiasts alike, earning a reputation as one of the most haunted hotels in the world, according to a chilling 2010 Trip Advisor ranking.

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

Today it is a hotel as it has been since the 90s, but before that it used to be the land of the O’Reilly clan. This was until Oliver Cromwell took control in the 1600s. The original castle from before this time was destroyed and Cabra House was built on top of the ruins. The ruins of the original Cabra House, or Cabra Castle, can be seen on a slight height near the Wishing Well in what is now Dún a’ Rí Forest Park, formerly part of the Cabra Estate. 

Cabra Castle: Today the Cabra Castle is a luxury hotel. It is said to be haunted of not only one ghost though. //Source: Colette Gemmell/Wikimedia

The rebuilt castle was then called Cormy Castle and the Foster family lived there when the supposed ghost story is said to have happened. The main building was in ruins, destroyed during the Cromwellian War, however, its adjacent courtyard remained in good repair.

A Tale of Forbidden Love

In the 1780s, the castle’s owners had a son who found his heart entwined with that of a servant girl named Sarah. Who this was is not specified, but it is known that John Tomas Foster was the one that took over the castle in 1795, but died shortly after. Although he is not named in any of the stories, he is the heir around that time. If there ever worked a girl named Sarah during that time, is not found any proof of though. 

According to the legend, they managed to keep their relationship a secret for a while, but secrets have a way of unveiling themselves when the truth cannot remain hidden. Sarah’s secret was revealed when she discovered she was with child, a revelation that would prove catastrophic for her and her lover.

A Tragic End

The heir’s family, driven by property and social standing, decreed that Sarah must be silenced. In a macabre turn of events, Sarah was taken from the servants’ quarters of Cabra Castle and dragged into the nearby forest, perhaps the Dún a Rí Forest, where they murdered her and her unborn child.

Legends recount that Sarah met a gruesome end, her lifeless form hanging over a bridge in the dark heart of the forest. But it is said that her spirit did not rest, and the echoes of her tragic tale continue to haunt Cabra Castle to this day.

Sarah’s Bridge: In the Dún a Rí Forest, there is a bridge called Sarah’s Bridge, constructed in 1801, was named in memory of Sarah Mountmorris, who married into the Pratt family. Local legend, on the other hand, tells about a Sarah who had been meeting her boyfriend on the bridge for nearly three decades. One evening, he unexpectedly proposed to her, causing Sarah to fall into the river and drown. To prevent a similar tragedy, side walls were added to the bridge, making it a more secure and less risky place for romantic rendezvous. Therefore it has little to nothing with the Servant Sarah from Cabra Castle.// Source

A Crying Infant in the Night

Visitors to Cabra Castle have reported spine-chilling experiences, where the past and present intersect in eerie ways. In the stillness of the night, some claim to have heard the haunting cries of a baby—an unsettling reminder of the pain and sorrow that once unfolded here.

The courtyard rooms hold their own secrets, with numerous accounts of guests sensing an unexplained “presence” nearby. These encounters have left many with an indelible sense of the uncanny, especially in the courtyard rooms and near the Hanging Tree that is found on the ground. In some version of the story it was from this tree that she was hanged.

The Other Ghost at Cabra Castle

But the ghost of the unfortunate servant girl is not the only ghost said to haunt the old castle. One guest recounted an encounter with a man clad in the uniform of the early 20th century, striding purposefully down a corridor—a figure both mysterious and disconcerting.

Read More: Check out all of the Haunted Castles from around the world

In the dark hours when the veil between worlds seems to waver, others have described hearing the unmistakable sounds of a horse and carriage. These spectral noises, they claim, herald the arrival of a phantom carriage depositing a crying infant at the castle’s steps—a haunting scene that defies explanation.

The Enchantingly Haunted Cabra Castle

The ending of Cabra Castle ghostly tale is as enigmatic as the spirits that wander its halls. While the tragic story of the servant girl’s murder leaves a lingering sense of sorrow and injustice, there is a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.

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

Cabra Castle remains an enchanting yet haunted place, captivating those who dare to visit. Its rich history, mingled with the supernatural, creates an otherworldly experience that leaves an indelible mark on all who wander its storied grounds.

While the tale of the servant girl’s murder remains a haunting reminder of the injustices of the past, Cabra Castle, forever enigmatic and hauntingly beautiful, beckons to those who seek an experience beyond the ordinary. Step into its storied halls, and let the echoes of the past whisper their secrets to you.

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​Ghostly tales of Irish Castles – Original Irish Hotels 

Cabra Castle Hotel | Haunted Cavan, Ireland | Spirited Isle 

Take a Ghost Tour of the Romantic Castles of Ireland | Cabra… 

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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.

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

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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The Cursed Lisheen House and the Haunting Egyptian Artifacts

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Inside of the strange Lisheen House, there was once almost a museum of strange artifacts from abroad. When strange things started to happen, they became convinced there was a haunted or even cursed artifact that was behind the poltergeist activity. 

On the Coolera Peninsula of Sligo in Ireland stands the Lisheen House, also known as Seafield Mansion from the 1840s. The peninsula is characterized by a vast network of ancient Megalithic and Neolithic tombs, cairns and ringforts spread out across its landscape.

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The house was constructed by William Phibbs during the Great Famine. In gaelic, Lisheen means “the little fort.” The full place name Lisheenacooravan means “the little fort on the white level plain.” Phibbs was a landlord known for his cruelty and indifference, making his legacy a shadowy one.

Egyptian Artifacts A Curious Collection

By the early 20th century, Owen Phibbs, a descendant of William, transformed Lisheen House into a repository of Egyptian artifacts, including mummies. He was an archeologist as many of the richer men at the time traveled all around the world in search of rare relics. 

Some even claim that he was also a grave robber and treated his tenants cruelly and had them salute him when he drove by in his luxurious carriage. There are even stories that one of the tenants cast a curse on him and his family. 

He was known for kicking out those that couldn’t pay his unfairly high rent and once a widow cast a curse and swore that day would come when the birds of the air would build their nests in the ruins of Seafield House. She also cursed the Phibbs to walk its halls forever after, in this life or the next, until the end of time.

Lisheen House: Today, the house is almost taken back by nature and only its shell remains. The house was thought to be haunted, possible even cursed by poltergeist like activity. There could be because of an alleged curse put on the family there, or something from the strange and foreign artifacts that were brought back. //Source

He came back in 1855 from traveling through Egypt, Syria and further east. When he came back, he returned with many ancient and foreign treasures he put on display in a room he called the museum on the first floor of his house. Exactly what type of relics and their meaning is not known today. Little did he know that this endeavor would awaken malevolent forces within the mansion’s walls.

The Poltergeist Reign

Servants within the mansion bore witness to harrowing occurrences as strange things started to happen from then on. Lisheen House quaked ominously, and objects seemed to hurl themselves against walls. They could hear loud banding on the walls, doors and ceilings and dark figures would wander around.

The presence of a violent poltergeist was undeniable, and fear permeated the once-luxurious abode. People were sure it was something to do with the foreign artifacts.

Haunting Phantoms and Mysterious Coaches

Among the spectral phenomena reported was the ghostly appearance of a horse-drawn coach, its eerie rumble echoing through the night. The phantom vehicle would approach the mansion’s entrance only to vanish into thin air. Despite multiple attempts at exorcism, the paranormal activity persisted.

The haunting became so bad that the family called upon the local Jesuit priest that came to exorcise the place. Every day for several weeks the priest would try to hold masses to rid the house of the poltergeist, but nothing seemed to work.

The Phibbs Exodus from Lisheen House

The Phibbs family, while living in denial of the haunting, could not retain servants due to the mansion’s sinister reputation and the staff quit one by one and no one stayed for long. It was at this point they also changed the name to Lisheen House to try to save what was left of the reputation. But it was already too late. 

In 1938, a sudden decision was made by the family to abandon Lisheen House entirely. Their departure marked the end of an era for the once-stately mansion.

It is often said that it was because of an incident when the haunting became so intense the whole house was shaking, making them believe it was an earthquake and forcing them outside. After this night both the family and the remaining staff fled to never return.

A Mansion in Ruins

Lisheen House, its history veiled in the supernatural, was left to crumble into ruins after the family left in 1938. No one wanted to go back to the house to claim the house or the things inside it. Most of the content was sold. Were it ended up and what happened to the hauntings after remains a mystery. 

Today, it stands cloaked in wild Atlantic ivy, a silent testament to its eerie past on the green field. It looks peaceful today, but is it really? Many have claimed to have seen a coach with four horses, making the claim that the widow’s curse really came true and that the house is haunted until the end of time. 

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Lisheen House – Go Strandhill 

Did Ireland’s answer to Indiana Jones bring home a Poltergeist in 1855? 

Seafield House | Emerald Isle Irish and Celtic myths, fairy tales and legends