Fancy a spook at our haunted castles?

our Halloween ghost hunters guide to scariest sites in ireland

WE all love a spooky ghost story, especially around Halloween. Ireland is home to dozens of castles which are filled with many tales of scary encounters.

Of the many historic buildings with a ghostly history, Expedia has narrowed them down to 10 of the most eerie. Would you be brave enough to visit any of them?

1. BALLYGALLY Ballygally Castle, Co Antrim

JUST 40 minutes north of Belfast on the Co Antrim coast, Ballygally is a popular hotel but it’s said to have haunted ties. The original castle dates back to the early 17th Century with the central tower said to be haunted by Lady Isabella Shaw. Her ghost is said to walk the corridors and knocks on doors. It even has a ghost room if you’re brave.

2. LOUGHMOE Loughmoe Castle, Co Tipperary

Tipperary is home to some of our most famous historic buildings with the Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle and Nenagh very popular with visitors throughout the year. Loughmoe Castle is about 15 minutes from Thurles and 30 minutes from Cashel. Today, the castle is said to be haunted by the ghost of man who ended his life there in the 1970s.

3. LEAP CASTLE Leap Castle, Co Offaly

Considered by many to be Ireland’s most haunted, it was allegedly home to some brutal atrocities in centuries gone by. Many of these revolved around the O’carroll clan who occupied the castle for many years. Today the castle is the home of the Ryan family, and while access is restricted, thousands of visitors still flock to Leap every year in hope of catching a sign of the spirits that wander there.

4. CLONONY Clonony Castle, Co Offaly

Clonony is a 16th century Tudor building with period features including mystery passages and even a murder hole. A gift to Thomas Boleyn from King Henry VIII in exchange for the hand in marriage of his daughter Anne (Henry’s second wife who was beheaded). A ghost known as The Thin Man is said to appear on the tower.

5. CLIFDEN Clifden Castle, Co Galway

While the beaches are often a reason for many flocking to the seaside town, it’s the town’s castle that has something spooky in store for visitors this Halloween. Clifden Castle was built in the 19th Century but went into decline during the Potato Blight of 1845. The castle is said to be haunted by the spirits of the poor and deprived who sheltered in the castle grounds.

6. TULLY Tully Castle, Co Fermanagh

On the shores of Lower Lough Erne, 17th-century ruin is a must-see for anyone ghost hunters this Halloween. The castle was apparently burned down on Christmas Day in 1641 during an Irish rebellion, with women and children among the many people killed. Local legend has it their ghosts return to scene of their deaths Christmas Day.

7. BELVELLY Belvelly Castle, Co Cork

Located near Fota Island is this 15th-century ruin. The castle is said to be haunted by several spirits with the most famous being the faceless ghost of Lady Margaret. She was captured and brought to the castle in the 17th century, were she is said to have been starved, lost her beauty, before smashing all the mirrors in the castle.

8. LEAMANEH Leamaneh Castle, Co Clare

Located in the famous Burren region, Leamaneh Castle is said to be haunted by the legend of Red Mary. She is rumoured to have had over 20 husbands, with most of them meeting a grisly end. It’s said locals sealed her alive in a hollow tree trunk, and today she haunts the castle. It is said you can even hear her cackles.

9. KILLUA Killua Castle, Co Westmeath

Dating back to the 17th century, Killua once belonged to the Chapman – ancestors of TE Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. The castle is said to be haunted by a former land steward who is believed to have cheated Chapman out of money. Consumed by remorse, the swindler drowned himself in a nearby lake.

10. LESLIE Castle Leslie, Co Monaghan

A 17th-century castle is now a luxury hotel where stars including Paul Mccartney wed. The castle has been in the Leslie household since 1665 and is said to be haunted by the ghost of Norman Leslie who died during the First World War. Indeed, the room that Norman haunts is one of the main attractions of the hotel – the Red Room.