The ghostly soldier of Crolly: The haunting of Donegal’s historic distillery

In the heart of northwest Donegal, the village of Crolly is home to a building steeped in over a century of history. Built-in 1904, it has served many purposes—from a carpet factory to a barracks for the British Army, from the home of the beloved Crolly Dolls to an electronics workshop, and now a bustling whiskey distillery. But one thing has remained constant: the presence of a ghostly figure.

In the parish of Crolly in northwest Donegal stands a building with a 120-year history. It has been a carpet factory, a barracks for the British army, the home of the famous Crolly dolls, an electronics workshop and now a thriving whiskey distillery.

This building also contains a mysterious presence, that of the restless spirit of a British soldier tragically killed during the War of Independence. This is Private Charles Harsant, the ghostly soldier of Crolly.

The imposing building finished in 1904 was the brainchild of Cardinal O’Donnell built to provide employment and preserve the Irish language. It became home to the Crolly arm of Donegal carpets. This was owned by the Scottish businessman Alexander Morton and was one of three carpet factories in Donegal.

Donegal Carpets can be found in Áras an Uachtaráin home of the Irish President, Dublin Castle, Buckingham Palace, The American White House and even the Taj Mahal.

However, in 1915 the Crolly arm of Donegal carpets closed as the world economy contracted due to the ravages of World War I and the building was now empty.

It would not be vacant for long. The British Army concerned about the activity of the U-boat packs hunting convoys off the Donegal coast and aware of rising republican sentiment established a radio listening station in the nearby fishing village of Bunbeg.

This quickly became one of the most important British military installations in Donegal and needed to be protected.

Two companies of the rifle brigade were brought to the area from Derry and now needed barracks.

Crolly became the home of the British army and the Royal Irish Constabulary.

As the War of Independence raged, northwest Donegal and the Rosses area in particular was a hotbed of republican activity with the local Flying Column very active.

The British reinforced their troops in the Crolly barracks and one of these was a young man from Hackney in London Private Charles Harsant.

Harsant had always wanted to be a soldier and signed up in May 1916 lying about his age. Found out he was discharged in June 1916. He relisted when he turned 18 and was sent to Ireland.

Donegal was a dangerous place for Harsant and his fellow soldiers as Crolly barracks became the focus of numerous attacks by the local flying column and were virtually under siege.

In May 1921 the Flying Column was more active elsewhere and the British feeling relief at the lull in hostilities granted the soldiers time to relax. Many of them went around the corner to Crolly village and had a raucous night in the local hotel, the Fisherman’s Inn.

As they made their way home, one man lagged behind, Private Charles Harsant. The sentries on duty in the barracks were nervous and ensured no one gained entry without the password. A drunk Harsant had forgotten the keyword and attempted to bypass the guards. He slipped by them and proceeded to climb the wall up to the bunk room. As he entered the window the startled men groggy with sleep and drink thought he was a rebel and that they were under attack. They shot him and he bled to death by the window.

He was waked in Bunbeg, and a simple gravestone marks his resting place in the nearby cemetery, but Charles was not at peace!

After the War of Independence, the building was empty for many years, but locals would always report a figure by the window. The abandoned building soon gained a supernatural reputation. 

In 1938 it became home for the Crolly Dolls, and the bunk room became the factory storeroom, but numerous supernatural events were reported including a recurring blood stain on the spot where Charles died.

In a desperate attempt to cover the blood stain the manager laid a linoleum floor, and the room became the staff canteen, but Harsant still would not rest.

Not only did workers report the blood stain seeping through the new flooring, but many recall footsteps ascending the stairs with no one to be seen. The canteen was soon relocated!

In 1980 the building became an electrical factory, and many workers stated the ghost interacted with them. One such episode concerned an employee going through a particularly challenging time in their life. They reported that a hand was on their shoulder and a voice told them they would be ok. No one was seen behind them!

In 2023 a young girl reported the ghost stood beside her in the female toilets of the new Crolly Distillery.

A medium, a close friend of the family, visited the distillery and reported that she felt the presence of Charles Harsant all around the building!

Crolly now throngs with visitors from all over the world experiencing the new Whiskey distillery. Many have reported to staff that as they enter the room where young Private Charles Harsant died they experience a chill that even a dram of whiskey cannot cure!

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