Ireland’s top ten haunted pubs- spooky spots for a haunting Halloween

Irish hostelries that have been touched by spirits from the otherside

Surely a pub next to a cemetery won’t be without its own ghosts! Kavanagh’s, also known as ‘The Gravediggers’ due to its location near Prospect Cemetery, originated in 1833 and was named for former landlord John Kavanagh, who fathered 25 children.

An observed tradition at this pub is to order a pint by throwing a shovel of earth from the cemetery against the pub’s wall. The site is said to be frequented by an older man in old-fashioned tweeds who sits and enjoys a pint, until he disappears without a trace.

7. Ross Castle, Meath

This castle was built in 1533 by the lord of Devon, Richard Nugent, also known as ‘The Black Baron.’ Legend has it that in 1536, the Baron’s daughter Sabina snuck out to meet a man named Orwin at a bridge towards the end of her father’s property. Sabina’s father the Baron was English, and Sabina’s suitor was the son of an Irish lord, thus making an improper match. The two eloped by taking a boat out to Lough Sheelin.

The boat tragically capsized, killing Orwin and injuring Sabina so that she would not wake for three days. When she did, she awoke to Orwin’s body laid out in the palace chapel. She died of shock soon after.

The two are buried nearby the Castle, but the story goes that Sabina’s spirit returned to Ross, while Orwin’s returned to his family’s home. Sabina’s screams have reportedly been heard late at night in Ross Castle.

The following three Castles make up what are considered ‘Offaly’s Haunted Triangle.’

8. Charleville Castle
This castle was built between 1798 and 1812 by the 1st Earl of Charleville, Charles Bury. It is believed that Bury was a devil-worshipper, and his ghost now walks among the dungeons, catacombs and tower of his castle.

The castle is also haunted by the ghost of a young girl who fell down stairs to her death in the early 1800s, around the time the castle was being built. She still roams the castle and has been heard moving furniture, laughing and talking.

9 . Leap Castle
Leap Castle is inhabited by several ghosts. One, perhaps the most frightening, is that of a foul smelling elemental creature that is half human and half beast. It is said to roam the lower regions of the Castle.

A ghost of a young girl, believed to be the daughter of a one-time owner of the Castle, also haunts the site. Story goes that her father killed the boy she was in love with, so she in turn killed her father one night during his sleep. The following day, the girl was pushed off the castle by an invisible hand, falling to her death from what is believed to be the ghost of her own father’s hand.

Many visitors have reported eerie moaning and weeping sounds at night, as well as lights at the top of the Castle, perhaps the young girl wandering about mourning her lost love.

10 .Kinnitty Castle
The “Phantom Monk of Kinnitty” has been seen gliding along the room of the Banquet Hall in this Castle.The Phantom often stops to look out of a particular window overlooking the courtyard.

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Nster.com