Calling all thrill seekers! Here are the most haunted spots in Ireland worth the visit.
While many associate Ireland with its beautiful rolling hills and stunning views of the coast, the Emerald Isle is also rife with eerie hauntings, ghost appearances and other paranormal entities in its ruined castles, ancient stone circles, and abandoned buildings.
Whether you want to pay a visit to a haunted medieval castle, learn the history of paranormal sightings or walk around a ghostly graveyard, these are Ireland's spookiest locations.
Ahead of Halloween, Betfair Bingo has generated a list of the top 12 most haunted locations in Ireland, with Charles Fort in Co Cork ranking in first place.
The popularity of each location was measured by a unique index score, based on the number of hashtags and views each location has racked up on Instagram, as well as Trip Advisor rankings - with the lower the overall index score the higher the ranking.
It's no surprise Charles Fort, which was declared an Irish National Monument in 1973, came out on top. The star-shaped fort is known for its resident ghost The White Lady - known as Wilful Warrender - the daughter of the commander of Charles Fort. Sightings of the Lady have been reported, including one who even felt the ghost smiling at them.
Ross Castle. Credit: Getty Images
Following behind in second place was Ross Castle in County Kerry, which overlooks Lough Sheelin, and is known for its rustic but ghostly atmosphere the moment you step inside. Expect to hear eerie noises of the blustery winds and knocking on the windows.
Leap Castle. Credit: Ireland's Content Pool
St Katherine’s Abbey in Limerick was another high contender. Also known as the Abbey of the Black Hag, the medieval abbey is an ancient ruin, with a refectory, old prison cells, and a cloister among old trees, which has tales of hauntings stemmed in black magic.
The Hell Fire Club, Mountpelier Hill, Co. Dublin. Credit: Ireland's Content Pool
Carrickfergus Castle in Antrim and Aughrim Battlefield in Galway ranked in joint fourth place. Also in the top five is Duckett’s Grove, which beat Leap Castle and The Hell Fire Club.
Situated in the Dublin Mountains, The Hell Fire Club was known as the meeting point for rituals to summon demons and even Satan himself.
The top 12 haunted locations in Ireland:
- Charles Fort, Cork
- Ross Castle, Meath
- St Katherine’s Abbey aka The Black Nun’s Abbey, Limerick
- Carrickfergus Castle, Antrim and Aughrim Battlefield, Galway
- Duckett’s Grove, Carlow
- Charleville Castle, Offaly and Grand Opera House, Belfast
- Leap Castle, Coolderry
- The Hell Fire Club, Montpelier Hill, Dublin
- Wicklow Gaol, Wicklow and Renvyle House Hotel, Galway
- Glenullin, Derry
- St Michan’s Church, Dublin and Belvelly Castle, Cork
- St Anne's Mental Asylum, Cork
Comments