What is the most Haunted Castle in Ireland?
Our vote for the most haunted castle in Ireland, goes to Malahide Castle which is the proud home to at least five ghosts.
The Talbot family owned Malahide Castle for almost 800 years, with only a period of brief interruption between 1649 to 1660 when the forces of Oliver Cromwell took over the castle and it was given by Cromwell to Miles Corbet, one of his followers.
Miles Corbett however met a terrible fate when he hanged and quartered at Malahide for his atrocities during Cromwell’s reign and for being a traitor to the crown.
The Castle is north of Dublin and sits on 260 acres. Sir Richard Talbot was the original owner of the castle. For this service to Henry II during the Anglo-Norman conquest of Ireland he was granted the lands and port of Malahide. The oldest parts of the castle date from the late 12th century, although it was enlarged and the towers added in 1625 during the reign of Edward IV.
The castle remained in the hands of the Talbot family, with the exception of Corbett, until 1976.
The 7th Baron, Lord Milo Talbot, died in 1973 and the estate passed to his sister Rose. Rose sold the castle to the Irish State in 1975, partly to cover inheritance taxes. Rose died peacefully at Malahide House, Tasmania in 2009.
The Talbotfamily history is mired in tragedy, thus the troubled spirits that are reportedly haunting the castle.
Ireland is home to some of the world’s most haunted castles, and haunted castle tours in Ireland are among the best ways to explore this haunted history. Anyone eager for a thrill can visit these haunted castle tours to find out for themselves if the tales surrounding them are true – graveled pathways, cobwebbed corridors and haunted chambers eagerly await exploration. On these tours, knowledgeable guides tell captivating stories about haunted Irish castles before opening their gates and allowing adventurers to piece together what they hear with what they see. With dozens of potential ghosts and spirits within reach, haunted castles in ireland are certain to be some of the most spine-tingling experiences you encounter!
Haunted Castles in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is known for its haunted castles located all throughout the region. From Carrickfergus Castle to Glenarm Castle, paranormal sightings and encounters are said to be common by those who venture near these haunted landmarks. Even local legends during the 16th century fearfully warned about sinister spirits lingering in the shadows of the haunted fortresses. Whether it’s simply an urban legend or something more real, haunted castles in Northern Ireland remain one of the country’s legendary secrets that draws many people from around the world every year.
Leap Castle
Leap Castle Haunted is an ancient and eerie monument shrouded in myth and legend. Located just outside of Roscrea, County Offaly, Ireland, this gothic ruin has a dark history as one of the most haunted places in Ireland. Reportedly built around 1250 by the O’Bannon clan, leap castle served as the site for bloody battles between rival clans and reportedly contained torture chambers deep within its walls. This grim past set the stage for leap castle’s emergence as a real-life haunted house with sightings of ghosts, strange noises, and ominous secrets lurking in every corner of this eerie structure. It has been featured on popular television shows such as Ghost Adventures and Most Haunted, captivating viewers from all over world eager to hear its spine-tingling tales. Whether or not leap castle is truly haunted will remain a mystery forevermore known only to those brave enough to seek out its secrets and shadows.
Castle Leslie
Castle Leslie Estate in Glaslough, Ireland has long been the subject of ghostly tales. Evidence of this can be seen in the castle itself, where visitors have reported strange noises and sightings of ghostly apparitions throughout its more than 500 year old walls. There are reports of a “White Lady” who haunts the area, as well as stories about other famous castle ghosts such as Lady Lila who supposedly haunts castle’s library. The castle has been featured in countless books and television shows due to its spooky reputation, ensuring that even if you don’t experience anything while visiting this beautiful castle– you’ll still come away with quite the story to tell friends and family!
Bloody Chapel
The bloody chapel of Ireland has an incredibly violent history. Located in Clonmacnoise, County Offaly, the bloody chapel is a decaying ruin that was once an important center for religious education in the 16th century. While its bloody past may be only a distant memory, its decrepit walls still remember how it was used as a bloody battleground between conflicting factions during the 16th century civil wars. Though now abandoned, the bloody chapel stands as a reminder of both the political and religious turmoil one can find in times of strife. The bloody chapel still remains a site of interest that showcases how much violence occurred here centuries earlier.
Miss Maud Plunkett.
Maud was a charming young woman, daughter of the Baron of Killeen. She and a young soldier, Walter Hussey, Lord Galtrim, fell in love. When Lord Galtrim was in the service, his father asked permission of the Talbots to marry in Malahide. The Talbots agreed.
There are two versions of Lord Galtrim and Maud Plunkett’s wedding day. One version says that Galtrim was ambushed, stabbed and killed by a rival on his way to the wedding. The other states that Galtrim and Plunkett were married on Whit Monday morning 1429. A few hours later, Galtrim was killed in battle, possibly at the hands of a rival.
Whatever the case, the ghost of Lord Galtrim haunts Malahide Castle, wandering the halls, moaning and pointing to the spear wound in his side and also bemoaning the loss of this loved one to a rival.
Maud eventually ended up with a third husband who was a Lord Chief Justice at the time. According to legend, Maud and the Lord Chief Justice often quarreled, with Maud often being the instigator and the couple chased one another through the halls of Malahide. The ghost of the Lord Chief Justice is believed to be the spirit chasing Maud through the corridors of Malahide.
Miles Corbett
Miles Corbett was hated by almost all of the locals as he had a reign of terror during his short reign at Malahide. He even tried to eradicate Catholicism and attacked the local abbey.
Corbett was one of the 59 members of parliament who signed the death warrant for Charles I and a follower of Cromwell. Corbett was ‘granted’ by Cromwell Malahide.
After the execution of Cromwell and the restoration of the monarchy, Charles II ordered the deaths of all the traitors.. Upon hearing this, Corbett fled to the Netherlands and the Talbots returned to Malahide. When Corbett was caught two years later, he was taken back to Malahide and executed.
His ghost reappears on the anniversary of his death, walking the halls of the castle. His spirit also appears at other times throughout the year, wearing full armor that slowly breaks into four pieces as he was hanged, drawn and quartered from limb to limb.
Puck the midget.
Malahide’s fifth ghost is a visitor favorite, Puck. Puck was a midget. In addition to being Talbot’s jester, Puck was also a guard who lived in one of the towers. During the reign of Henry VIII, Lady Elenora Fitzgerald, a relative, was imprisoned at Malahide Castle for her rebellious tendencies. Puck for his sins fell in love with the lady.
Some say Puck got distracted by the lady and hanged himself for failing to keep guard. Others say Puck was rejected and hanged himself in misery. It was also suggested that the Talbots deemed the match unsuitable and ended it. Most accounts state that Puck was mysteriously stabbed to death just outside the castle walls on a snowy December night. He wore his jester outfit, complete with hat and bell.
Puck was found before he died, and with his dying breath he vowed to haunt Malahide’s castle. Puck is now a mischievous ghost who loves to photobomb visitors to the castle.
The Last Ghost of Malahide
There is another ghost hiding in the halls, the notorious The White Lady. In the Great Hall is a painting of an anonymous lady in a flowing white dress. On occasion this young woman leaves her portrait and wanders the castle corridors.
In addition to the identified spirits, there are a number of unexplained incidents at Malahide Castle. Doors locked by the staff themselves. Open doors slam. Invisible hands push people as they walk down the aisles. Water taps also open and close by themselves.
So, why wait? Come for a visit to Ireland’s most haunted castle.
There are more than 30,000 Castles in Ireland, so where do you start as a visitor? Fortunately, here at Love Ireland, we have you covered. Follow the 2 steps below and it will help you on the right path.
Ready for your trip to Ireland? Start here.
Viator