Moon Mausoleum
An online magazine about the paranormal, haunted and macabre. We collect the ghost stories from all around the world as well as review horror and gothic media.
In the woodlands outside of Castle Durrow in Ireland it is said that the ghost of a highwayman is still guarding his treasure. Inside of the old castle turned hotel, it is said friendly ghosts are haunting.
In the woodlands outside of Castle Durrow in Ireland it is said that the ghost of a highwayman is still guarding his treasure. Inside of the old castle turned hotel, it is said friendly ghosts are haunting.
The regal Castle Durrow stands today as an elegant four-star hotel, exuding timeless charm and a storied history that stretches back to the 18th century. Castle Durrow overlooks the River Erkina in County Laois with over 30 acres of forest and gardens to explore.
Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland
This magnificent fortress of pre-Palladian design built from 1712 was once the abode of esteemed barons and viscounts, echoing with the grandeur of bygone eras and the whispers of ghostly secrets.
The village of Durrow takes from the Irish Darmhagh Ua nDuach, meaning ‘the oak plain’, and there is in these woods the ghost of a highwayman guarding his treasure.
Behind the opulent facade of Castle Durrow lies a tale veiled in darkness. Ruthless thieves terrorized the local community in the early years of the 19th century in the dense forest of Durrow. The highwaymen was led by none other than the notorious highwayman, Captain Jeremiah Grant as he was called and his thieving gang left a trail of fear in their wake.
Read also: The Highwayman Robbed of his Life
Captain Grant’s gang was a relentless force of malevolence, robbing carriages, and striking fear into the hearts of all who crossed their path.
However, as fate would have it, the reign of terror orchestrated by Captain Grant and his gang would ultimately meet its end. Justice prevailed, and the nefarious highwaymen were apprehended, their fate sealed by the hangman’s noose in 1816. But before facing their final judgment, they harbored a secret—a stolen treasure, buried deep within the ancient forests surrounding Durrow and Dunmore Wood.
The specters of Captain Grant and his malevolent gang are rumored to still haunt the woods, their spectral presence serving as an ominous warning to would-be treasure seekers, still guarding it all these years later.
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Although with this reputation, it is also said that Jeremiah Grant was kind to animals and hurt no man as he robbed them. When looking into history, an orphaned boy that was evicted from his farm from a greedy landlord, one can wonder if it really is more of a tragic story about what poverty can do to a man rather than greed for endless treasures. This gives a stark contrast to the luxury within the huge castle.
The ruthless highwaymen protecting their treasure is not the only ghost said to reside around the old castle. After Castle Durrow opened as a hotel in the 1990s, there have been stories about friendly ghosts that haunt the hotel and are more of a help than anything.
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There is also a legend about a woman that died when she fell off her horse close to the castle and is said to be haunting her place of death. This spot is marked with an obelisk in a field near the hotel and many claim to have seen her ghost around the spot.
The chilling tales of Castle Durrow and its spectral guardians serve as a haunting reminder that history’s echoes are not always confined to the pages of time. Even amidst the elegance and refinement of a four-star hotel, the ghostly whispers of the past persist, weaving an intricate tapestry of intrigue and trepidation.
Featured Image: A.-K. D./Wikimedia
Castle Durrow | Haunted Laois, Ireland | Spirited Isle
Jeremiah Grant of Tipperary, Highwayman
