Haunted Heritage

You will not believe the many places across Northern Ireland which are said to be haunted! To help you get into the Halloween spirit, here are just a few well known places where the living and the non-living mix together on a regular basis, starting with some haunted hotels. 

Ballygally Castle Hotel in County Antrim is one of the most famous haunted hotels. It is said to be haunted by Isabel Shaw who wanders the corridors at night dressed in a silk dress, amusing herself by knocking on guests’ doors. Those who are particularly brave can request to stay in the ghost room!

The White Horse Hotel in Londonderry, also known as Derry, is said to be haunted by a mail stage coach complete with portly driver, who pulls up and enters the hotel only to mysteriously disappear.

Old houses are often associated with hauntings, and these include some well known National Trust properties:

Springhill, an early plantation house situated outside Moneymore, County Londonderry, is haunted by the friendly ghost of Olivia Lenox Conyngham. She is said to float around the gardens and house and loves to see visitors to her home!

Mussenden Temple, situated on the Downhill estate on the North Coast, is said to have blood appear on the floor only to mysteriously disappear within minutes.

Castles are another popular venue for our non-living friends:

A few centuries ago the kitchens of Dunluce Castle, outside Portrush, County Antrim, slipped into the sea below taking the staff with them. On certain nights you can still hear the screams of the people as they fell to their watery graves.

Carrickfergus Castle is said to be haunted by Button Cap who carries his head under his arms as he walks the battlements and Dobbin’s Inn, also in Carrickfergus, is supposedly haunted by Button Cap’s girlfriend.