Why wait for Halloween? Visit most haunted places in Ireland

Try Kinnitty Castle in Birr Co. Offaly it is supposed to be haunted. Doors open for no reason. The Phantom Monk inhabits the Banquetting Hall and glides around (in his spare time) and gazes out a window. This guy seemingly has appointed himself guardian of the castle

I find it to be very interesting and will plan to visit a few of them when I venture to Ireland in April 2011. What I want to know is why Hoole Hall on the Hook Peninsula is not on the list.

very interesting so many more ghosts and ghostly sites in the North Of Ireland

There is a Ross Castle on the banks of Lough Sheelin in County Meath (on the edge of "The Pale"). I do however think that Leap Castle, County Offaly, is the most haunted castle in Ireland. It has its own oubliette, with spikes at the bottom. People were thrown in. When I stood on the doorstep knocking on the door I had to walk away - the atmosphere is too intense.

The most haunting of all has to be Kilmainham Gaol. Spirits abound there. The spirits from the An Gorta mor era fill the air as well as the spirits of the leaders of of 1916 who were murdered there in the yard. Let us not forget the spirits of those imprisoned there during the civil war.

Is there another Ross Castle? The only one I know of is in Kerry on Lough Leane, home of O'Donoghue Mor.

had a ghostly encounter myself, at night, whilst walking with our family, around the grounds of Markree Castle in Sligo. The present owners are descendants of a soldier who fought under Cromwell but who ended up marrying the widow of the man they killed! Very reasonably priced and well worth a visit...my daughter swears she's going to have her wedding there!...lets find her a husband first!!

fascinating - we need more such articles for tourists! THANK YOU!

Haunted is one thing, cursed another. No "apparitions" or supernatural gambolings but live or travel on a cursed place and very bad things will happen. Ireland is full of such places, most abandoned now, Thank God. I speak as one whose family had a place curse put on it and no one is now stupid enough to ignore the curse.

Correction: I went to Ross Castle in Killarney. I never heard of the one in County Meath, before.

Of the ten places on the list, I've only been to one, Ross Castle. It wasn't open, at the time. The white castle was shimmering in a beautiful mist, quiet and serene, with a white swan and her two young swimming by the castle shores. Completely mystical in it's beauty.

Love it!

Wow, the fact that you never even mention Leap Castle in County Offaly speaks volumes to me of the validity of your list. I've had several different experiences there and two at Charleville. I've been to 5 others on your list and while interesting... nothing. Also several fairy forts, that while not "haunted", give you pause because your camera/video keeps getting turned off. We defintely are not alone-LOL.