In recent years, Northern Ireland’s unique culture, with its festivals, music, natural beauty and sense of hospitality has attracted tourists from far and wide.
But that culture has also produced tales of paranormal beings, such as screaming banshees and Balor, the Celtic God of Death. While such beliefs may not be as widespread anymore, several locations off the beaten path will serve as intriguing detours for lovers of the supernatural.
Apart from the locations of ‘Westeros’, the Giant’s Causeway, and the Titanic Quarter, Northern Ireland is in fact a treasure trove of paranormal locales whose dark histories have certainly appealed to people – with ghost-hunting documentaries and podcasts galore, and such luminaries as Demi Lovato reporting ghostly encounters, interest in the unexplained has arguably never been higher.
The fascination with the macabre which has lasted centuries in Ireland has resulted in tales of murdered lovers, bloodthirsty vampires, and uneasy feelings in externally innocent sites.
If you are a fan of the ghoulish, here are 7 of the most haunted places in Northern Ireland you should know about:
- Springhill House, Moneymore
This illustrious country house located in south Derry was once the home for ten generations of the same family of Scottish immigrants. Today, the ‘friendly’ spirit of Olivia Stewart, the daughter of the 19th-century Viscount of Castlereagh has been rumoured to haunt the grounds. She is reportedly most likely to be seen by children and supposedly exudes a warm, peaceful feeling.
Bus services from Belfast to Cookstown stop in Moneymore – visitors can alight and walk the one mile down Springhill Road.
To find out more, go to nationaltrust.org.uk/springhill
- Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast
This prison, which operated for 150 years between 1846 and 1996, has fully embraced its ghoulish past, which saw 17 prisoners be executed within its walls. In the years since the building became a tourist attraction, there have been many spooky incidents reported, such as shadows in vacant cells, ghostly prison wardens and young children crying.
The Gaol runs occasional haunted tours throughout the year. On the Crumlin Road off Carlisle Circus – serviced by Translink’s Metro Service 57 and 12B Monday to Saturday.
For more information go to crumlinroadgaol.com
- Glenullin, Londonderry
Located a few miles outside this County Londonderry village, this lone Hawthorn tree supposedly holds a terrible secret – it is in fact the grave of Abhartach, who in the 5th or 6th century AD, according to myth, fed off the blood of his own subjects. After multiple attempts to kill him, a druid ordered a large stone be placed on top of the grave to prevent another resurrection.
Unfortunately the site is not signposted and is located on private land off the A29 road, but the lore is definitely worth a read.
To find out more, go to folkandflora.ie/abhartach-irelands-vampire-king
- Crown Bar, Belfast
On the surface, you wouldn’t expect a bustling pub in the heart of Belfast to be a hive of paranormal activity. However, you’d be wrong – this National Trust-owned property, first established in the 1820s, is rumoured to host two resident ghosts – Michael Flanagan, who renovated the bar in 1885, and Amelia, a Victorian prostitute who fell down the stairs to her death in mysterious circumstances.
Located opposite Europa Bus Centre and Great Victoria Street train station, the bar is easily accessible.
To find our more, go to nationaltrust.org.uk/the-crown-bar
- Friar’s Bush Graveyard, Belfast
Belfast’s oldest Christian burial ground, located not far from Queen’s University, was also used as a mass grave for cholera victims in the 19th century. While burials no longer take place at the cemetery, the spirits of cholera victims have apparently been seen walking among the graves at night.
However, the more haunting feature lies beneath; an underground tunnel connects the graveyard to the David Keir and Ashby Buildings of Queen’s University and users of the tunnel have claimed to have been touched by ghostly hands.
Take Metro 8A-B from Belfast city centre, get off at Botanic Gardens and walk down Stranmillis Road to see if you can catch a glimpse of the spirits.
To learn more, go to belfastcity.gov.uk/friar-s-bush
- Ballygally Coast Hotel, Ballygally
Despite its idyllic beachfront views, this hotel hides an intriguing story. The resident ghost of the hotel was allegedly locked inside a room in the castle by her husband after giving birth to their son, then she fell to her death while trying to escape through a window. Her spectre purportedly roams the hotel corridors at night in a silk dress, knocking on guests’ doors. Particularly fearless visitors can request to stay in the ‘ghost room’, where most of the hauntings have been reported.
To learn more, go to hastingshotels.com/ballygally-castle
- Dobbins Inn, Carrickfergus
This restored medieval tower house, located not far from Carrickfergus’ famous castle, includes one of Ireland’s oldest bars and – what else? – an inhabitant ghost. In the early 17th century, Elizabeth “Maud” Dobyn had an affair with a young soldier and her husband, in a fit of rage, killed Maud and her lover with his own sword. To this day, Maud’s figure has been sighted walking through reception and brushing faces gently with her invisible hand. Room 21 is reportedly the centre of the phenomena with visitors reporting a strong feeling of uneasiness.
For more information about the Inn, go to dobbinsinn.co.uk
- Bruce’s Castle, Rathlin Island
It’s not just on the mainland that ghosts roam. While staying at this castle three miles off the north Antrim coast in the early 14th century, Robert the Bruce and a group of his warriors fell into an enchanted sleep that declared that when they woke, they would rise up and unite Scotland with Rathlin. While the prophecy may not have come true, more recently, a group of fishermen claimed to have been accosted by a disembodied hand.
Find out more about the castle, go to discovernorthernireland.com/rathlin-island
- Smithfield Market, Belfast
Not even shopping markets are safe from ghostly phantoms. Biddy Farrelly was allegedly in love with a stallholder, Luke White, in the mid-18th century, but he left to pursue his dream of creating a printing press in Dublin. In despair, Biddy drank herself to death one year later, as the story goes. Her ghost has been sighted walking Gresham Street at midnight on Lammas Eve (31 July) carrying ballad sheets and crying for her lost love.
To learn more, go to belfastcity.gov.uk/smithfield
- WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre, Comber
In 2019, this seemingly innocuous marshland made a list of the Uk’s most haunted heritage sites that had been compiled by Spectrum Paranormal Investigations. Aside from being the home of Ireland’s largest collection of exotic and native water birds, a woman in Victorian dress has been sighted walking through the wetlands holding a baby and a lantern. The learning manager has described how the woman cries out at night…looking for shelter and warmth.
For more information about the Centre, go to wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/castle-espie
