The Hellfire Club • Dublin

The Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill near Tallaght, south County Dublin, is steeped in stories of dark events and the occult. It was built in 1725, as a hunting lodge for the famous Irish politician William Speaker Conolly. However, in the process of its construction, Connolly had a Neolithic passage tomb destroyed, with all the stone and earth from the tomb recycled as building material.
Following Conolly’s death in 1729, the hunting lodge became associated with the Hellfire Club, a group of leading aristocrats who were notorious for their excess and debauchery. Many tales have been told about this infamous association. They were said to have drunk a mix of melted butter and whiskey called scaltheen. In one account, they poured their scaltheen mix over a black cat, then set the poor animal alight as a precursor to their evening’s dark revelries. Another tale tells of a priest who had been told of the satanic worship, he arrived at the club during one of their sessions to see them all gathered around a table, at the head of which sat a large black cat. The clergyman recited prayers of exorcism and threw holy water at the cat which ‘tore the beast apart’!
We know the site particularly well after Neil’s excavations there. Neil risked the famous curse again earlier this summer, as he was digging inside the building in order to understand how the floors were made and if any material survived. Alas, there were no mosaic scenes of devilish orgies uncovered, but it did give a glimpse into the building’s history and subsequent dilapidation. You can read all about the site, its history and folklore in our free PDF book on the Hellfire Club and about the excavation, here.
• Roscommon

There’s few places more steeped in Halloween folklore than the atmospheric Oweynagat Cave, close to the royal site of Rathcroghan in County Roscommon. The name Oweynagat is derived from Uaimh na gCat, meaning the ‘Cave of the Cats’, though the cave is also referred to as Úaim Crúachain ‘the Cave of Crúachain’ and Síd Crúachan ‘The Otherworldly Place of Crúachan’. The cave features in the 12th century Book of Leinster as dorus iffiirn na Hérend – Ireland’s Gateway to Hell (it may have been replaced in the role by the M50). A passage to the Otherworld is said to open from Oweynagat during Halloween.
You can find out more about our last descent into the depths of the cave in our article here!
• Antrim

Does a prophetic nun still stalk this friary on the Causeway Coast? Perhaps! Julia McQuillan is known as the ‘Black Nun of Bonamargy’. She was a recluse who came to the friary after it had fallen out of use, where she is reputed to have made a number of prophecies. According to folk tradition, she successfully predicted the invention of the airplane and motor vehicles, but fell short with a prediction of a Russian invasion of Ireland, well so far at least!
Julia requested to be buried at the entrance to the nave of the friary so that people entering the church would walk across her grave as a sign of her humility and atonement. More lurid accounts suggest that you can summon her ghost by circling this grave counter–clockwise before passing your hand through the hole in the stone. We’ve never attempted this, and don’t intend to try!
Members of Tuatha can find out more about the archaeology and history of this site and how to visit in our exclusive article here.
• West Cork

Dunlough Castle on West Cork’s Mizen Peninsula looks straight from fantasy film, with centuries of harsh weather giving it the appearance of haunted ruin. And perhaps it is! The name Dunlough comes from the Irish Dún Locha, meaning the ‘Castle of the Lake’, and it’s this lake that visitors should be wary of… Local folklore warns of an enchanted woman who haunts the castle and the shore of the lake, and that to see her is an omen of imminent death.
It’s not the only hazard to stalk the lake, though. The 19th century antiquarian John Windele recorded that the cold waters are rumoured to be the home of a supernatural creature. It’s said to have the body of a serpent and a head like a giant horse, and to swallow unwary travellers.
Members of Tuatha can explore this and more West Cork Wonders in our exclusive itinerary here, if you’re brave enough to pass the haunted, beast-filled lake!
Bunratty Castle • Clare

Bunratty Castle is one of Ireland’s most visited heritage attractions, and a staple of primary school trips. But we were seldom – if ever! – told of the spectral visitations that are said to creep through the castle after the gates of folk park are shut for the night. Some of the stories say that the castle is haunted by the spirit of Julianna de Clare, who some claimed persuaded her husband to murder Brian Rua O’Brien, King of Thomond.
But she is not the only ghost, and there is a cautionary tale for the sceptics. One tale recorded in the Schools’ Folklore Collection describes the fate of a man who did not believe that the castle was haunted. To prove it was all nonsense, he went into the castle at night. As he went from room to room, he noticed that he was followed by two Norman knights. He fled to the top of the tower in terror, but the spectral knights followed him. As they surged forwards to attack, he leapt over the battlements to escape, only to fall to his death.
Find out more about Bunratty Castle in our free article and visitor guide here.
• North Cork

Labbacallee is Ireland’s largest example of a wedge tomb, measuring a truly monumental 14m in length. The name Labbacallee is derived from the Irish Leaba Chaillí, that can be roughly translated to ‘The Hag’s Bed’. A story in the wonderful National Folklore Collection tells of a hag, her husband and their five children who lived in the tomb. According to this tale, the hag and the husband were not on the best of terms (raising five children in a megalithic tomb might wear on your nerves a bit). A distinct depression in one of the stones was caused by the hag’s axe as she narrowly missed chopping her husband’s head. The tale also describes how she finally did away with him by flinging a large rock at him as he crossed the River Funcheon. Another tale describes that marks from the hag’s fingers can still be seen on the rock in the river today.
Tuatha Members can explore Labbacallee, along with a whole host of historic wonders in our North Cork Itinerary, available here.
• Carlow

The intriguing ruin of Ballymoon Castle is said to be haunted by an unearthly woman known, perhaps unimaginatively, as “The Ghost of Ballymoon Castle”. Recorded in the National Folklore Collection is a spine-tingling tale of the supernatural. According to this account, a local man would often go to a nearby graveyard to gather ivy from the trees to feed his goats. Late one evening, he ventured into the graveyard, but instead of finding ivy, he found himself faced by terrifying screams. Gripped by fear, he began running as fast as he could, but in his panic, he lost his way until he eventually found himself near the ruins of Ballymoon Castle. Seeking refuge, he entered the crumbling structure, sat down, and soon fell asleep. Not long after, he woke to see a faint red light flickering in the gloomy ruins. As he looked around, he noticed a woman standing in a doorway, her finger pointing out as though she was urging him to leave. Taking the hint, he rushed out, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t escape the castle and found himself running in circles. Exhausted, he finally collapsed, only to be found the next morning by a friend.
Members of Tuatha can explore this and millennia more of incredible sites between the Barrow Valley and the Blackstairs Mountains in our exclusive Carlow Itinerary here.

Of course, there are so many more incredible sites to visit for Halloween in Ireland. From ruined castles, to historic graveyards, atmospheric tombs and sprawling monasteries. You can find your perfect spot using our Places to Visit search. Filter by location, whether it’s good for children, accessibility and much, much more. Start your search here: