In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns and all things Irish, today I’ll share about two hauntings in Ireland.
Who doesn’t love a good castle? Moats, drawbridges…dungeons! From ramparts and parapets to that locked tower in the east wing, castles just ooze mystery. Maybe that’s why they’ve long been home to ghosts.
We start with the gruesome history of Leap Castle in Southern Ireland. It boasts bragging rights for being the most evil and haunted place on that fair Isle – not necessarily a distinction the current owners are thrilled with.
Though visitors report numerous ghost sightings, the most demonic is the “Elemental”, a half-man, half-beast whose hunched figure is trailed by the delightful, odiferous combination of sulfur and decaying flesh. Yum. Another frequent spectral sighting is of a female in a long red dress who often raises an arm over her head (I’d sure would like to know why, and isn’t it interesting how many female ghosts appear in a red velvet?).
When the castle underwent recent renovations, an oubliette was discovered — think tiny dungeon at the end of a long shaft, one embedded with spikes that pierce whoever is tossed down. Ow. After three cart loads of skeletal remains were removed an 1840s pocket watch was found. 1840s? That’s a little too recent for comfort!
Ick. Ick.
Time for a more pleasant, peaceful “haunting”…
Grace Neill died in 1916 at the very respectable age of ninety-eight. This colorful ol’ gal ran the Irish pub bearing her name for most of the 1800s, overseeing the goings-on while puffing on her clay pipe – and offering strangers to her establishment a warm greeting, in the form of a kiss!
Despite her body’s demise, Grace’s spirit remains at her pub…moving books and glasses, flicking lights off and on, pacing the upstairs. Seen as a “Victorian lady” and sometimes no more tangible than a whiff of smoke, she prowls her territory to this day, preferring the quiet backrooms and staircase.
Hmmm…I wonder if she washes the glasses before rearranging them? ;-)
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Larissa Lyons considers brownies an official food group and prays nightly for her own wee Irish ghostie to appear—one who’ll clean dishes and the whole house!
While she waits, you can read about her penchant for Roaring Rogues and sexy cowboys at her website.
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