Ireland For The Ultimate Haunted Halloween Experience
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Whilst Ireland is the Home of Halloween, it’s not just on the 31st October that travellers can uncover the island’s spookiest spots. Across the country there are tales of terrifying trails, stories of sinister goings-on and eery experiences to enjoy, year-round.
Here’s a round-up of scary sights to discover anytime throughout the year, for a hauntingly good time:
Ancient East
This Halloween and beyond, the Ancient East offers an array of spooky spots for any visitor looking for a scare! Marvel at Huntington Castle, County Carlow dating back to the 17th century where it was host to gatherings of druids, and is linked to the psychic world. It even has a temple to the goddess Isis in the basement. The castle, now a B&B, makes an exceptionally atmospheric place to stay, especially at Halloween (Guided Castle Tour & Garden Pass is from £11.50 per adult). Visitors wanting a truly haunting experience won’t want to miss out on seeing Ladyville House, formerly Loftus Hall in County Wexford, considered one of the most haunted places in Ireland. Legend has it the devil himself visited Loftus disguised as a dark stranger seeking shelter and is now being turned into a luxury five-star hotel retreat, set to open in 2025.
The final stop on the eastern coast to visit for spooks is the original prison building at Wicklow Gaol, known as one of the most haunted places on the island of Ireland. Guests can get a sense of the supernatural activity on one of the attraction’s eery night tours (from £10.50 per adult), or there’s the special paranormal tour, where you might just see one of the resident ghosts with your own eyes. Travellers wanting to explore the medieval city of Kilkenny‘s ghouls can enjoy a walk with Kilkenny Ghost Tours (from £13.50 per adult), strolling the cobbled, narrow streets guided by one of those very characters, such as Dame Alice Ketyler, the first woman to be tried as a witch in Ireland.
Dublin
Dublin is the ideal place to go for the ultimate ghostly experiences. Visitors won’t want to miss the Ghostbus (from £30 per person) as it snakes its way through Dublin. This purple double-decker is emblazoned with ghoulish characters and it only gets scarier inside, with its thick black curtain and bone-chilling tales. You’ll travel to Dublin’s most haunted sights, with actors telling stories of body snatchers, ghosts and paranormal activity. The abandoned hunting lodge on Montpelier Hill, known as the Hell Fire Club overlooks Dublin city and evokes a mysterious, spine-chilling feel. Commonly used as a spot for Dublin hikers and dog walkers, this was once a meeting ground for the dark arts-loving 18th century Irish Hellfire Club, described by author Jonathan Swift as “a brace of monsters, blasphemers & bacchanalians”. For the spookiest experience, visitors can take a three-hour nighttime Horror Hike (from £42 per person) to the site with Hidden Dublin Tours.
Northern Ireland
Things are even spookier in Northern Ireland at Crumlin Road Gaol, a historic Victorian-era prison that once housed some of Belfast’s most notorious characters. It also happens to be one of Northern Ireland’s most haunted places. Here, tortured souls of deceased inmates pace the wrought iron walkways and wail in the night. To get the best out of the experience, join a guided tour which brings you to areas of the gaol you don’t get to see otherwise (from £14 per adult).
On the Antrim coast, the 17th-century Ballygally Castle is home to the spirit of Lady Isabella Shaw, whose husband locked her in the top of the turret after she birthed a daughter instead of the son he wanted. When she tried to escape, she fell to her death on the rocks below. Brave holidaymakers can stay at the property, visit the room where she was imprisoned and may see her walk the corridors (one-night stays from £162 based on two sharing on a room only basis).
Despite the unthreatening name, Button Cap is perhaps one of the goriest sights on the Island of Ireland. Those wanting a scare should visit the impressive Carrickfergus Castle (from £6 per adult) at night to spot the ghost of Button Cap, carrying his head under his arm. There have been many reports of ghosts within this 800-year-old castle over the years, but Button Cap is the most famous and is thought to have been a soldier named Timothy Lavery.
South Coast
Down in Cork, Spike Island was once the largest prison in the world, a star-shaped fortress just a short boat trip from Cobh. Walking down into the former cells is spooky no matter when guests visit, but on an After Dark Tour (from £30 per adult) visitors walk the dark empty corridors, sit in solitary and experience what life was like in a place known as Ireland’s Hell. For a daytime spook, head to Charles Fort in Kinsale, County Cork, on a sunny afternoon (from £4.50 per adult). This fortress has a gory history, and one of the victims of its horrors, The White Lady, is said to still roam the grounds to this day.
To find out more or book your trip visit, https://www.ireland.com/en-gb/things-to-do/themes/culture/halloween-in-ireland/
