Why wait for Halloween? Visit most haunted places in Ireland

From old castles to deserted prisons, the scariest spots on the Emerald Isle

The Englishman was eventually hung, drawn and quartered for his crimes.

Every year, it’s said that Corbett’s ghost appears on the castle grounds. At first, the ghostly apparition appears to be a whole soldier in armor, but eventually he is said to fall into four pieces in front of your eyes.

One of the other more interesting ghosts of Malahide is the Talbot’s court jester during the 16^th century named Puck.

Nobody was laughing, however, when Puck fell in love with one of Lady Elenora Fitzgerald’s noblewomen, who was staying at the castle.

Puck was found outside the castle walls one night stabbed through the hurt. Before he died, the jester swore to come back and haunt the castle.

The most famous reports sighting of Puck’s ghost happened in 1976 when the contents of castle were sold off.

The jester’s “dwarf-life” ghost can also be seen in many photographs taken at the castle.

 

10. Dobbins Inn Hotel

Carrickfergus, County Antrim

The Dobbins Inn Hotel is one of Northern Ireland’s spookiest sites.

The hotel used to be a tower house built by Reginald d’Aubin in the 13^th century.

By the 15^th century, the family name had been changed to Dobbins, and many family members had become important local public figures.

In the late 1500s/early 1600s, the beautiful Elizabeth Dobbins, wife of then-owner Hugh Dobbins, fell in love with a handsome soldier that was stationed at a nearby castle.

The two began an affair, which involved Elizabeth crawling through a secret tunnel behind the huge stone fireplace in what is now the reception area of the hotel and meeting her soldier called “Buttoncap” for a romantic rendezvous.

Unfortunately for the lovers, Elizabeth’s husband discovered their affair, and murdered them both with his sword.

In 1946, the building was converted into what is now the Dobbins Inn Hotel, which is inhabited by Elizabeth’s ghost.

Guests have woken up from their sleep by the touch of an invisible hand caressing their faces.

Many others have seen a ghostly figure fly across the reception area and disappear into the chimney of the stone fireplace.

Once, a waiter who was working in the hotel’s restaurant was struck in the back of the leg by a coin, but when he turned around, the room was deserted.

It seems that Elizabeth is intent on continuing her affair, and won’t let anyone stand in her way!

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Nster.com