I am definitely a fan of Halloween, as well as ghost stories. So when I found myself in Ireland last year, I just had to stop by haunted Leap Castle – one of the world’s most notorious castles due to reports of ghostly and supernatural occurrences. But only during the daytime bc I’m still a scaredy-cat.
So I stopped by Leap Castle in Roscrea, Ireland. This is considered one of the world’s most haunted castles, and has been featured in several paranormal documentaries such as the Travel Channel’s “Ghost Hunters” and ABC’s “Scariest Places on Earth”. Do you watch those types of shows? I love them.
History of Leap Castle
I also looked-up some facts about Leap Castle for you on Wikipedia. It was built as a fortress during the civil war in Ireland in 13th century AD, most likely on an even older ceremonial structure as old as 500 BC. It has a very violent history due to rival clans fighting for it.
The most famous spirits supposedly haunting this castle is “The Red Lady” ghost that walks all over holding a dagger. And the “It” elemental spirit that does not have a human form, but can be smelled and supposedly foretells impending death if you witness it. Before their deaths, the people that have actually seen “It” describe it as a sheep with a human face, black holes for eyes and a nose, and the odor of a rotting corpse. THAT was what worried me the most about being there, that I would start smelling it. 😟
My Visit at Haunted Leap Castle
When you arrive, the owner of the castle will greet you. He’s there to answer your questions, and tell you a few stories about the history of the land and the castle itself. He’s a musician too, so he’ll play you some of his music too if you feel like attending a recital. There a isn’t a fee for the visit, but he does suggest that you leave a donation that goes towards the restoration and maintenance of the castle so that visitors can continue to tour it.
When you’re done chatting with him, he gives you a flashlight and that’s it. You’re on your own for the tour.
To be honest with you, I didn’t explore the whole entire castle bc I started to freak myself out. So I turned around to leave maybe halfway through. I feel like such a wimp about it, but I was scared! Would you have been scared?
My Photos of Leap Castle
Below are some of the amateur pics I took. They are unfiltered. Most areas of the castle had no lighting at all except from my flashlight, so please be forgiving about the photo quality…
And this visit to Leap Castle was a single stop of several stops I made during a roadtrip through Ireland. If you’d like a recap and photos of the rest of the roadtrip, you can see them here.
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Just in case you are a fan of haunted travel destinations, below is a link to a National Geographic book about the topic. Would make a great gift! 🙂
I take it this isn’t a paid/guided tour – just ruins to explore? Yep, I would have psyched myself out, too 😬😳.
The owner is there to let you in, and he tells you the history and the stories about it. He gives you a flashlight and you’re on your own at that point. He doesn’t escort you. There isn’t a “fee”, but they accept donations to be able to keep the castle open for visitors. 🙂
That is a really creepy castle. I wouldn’t go in there at night. If the owner installed some scary gags it would be the perfect haunted castle.
I do freak myself out with stuff like that sometimes too… if I stay at work past dark.. um yeah freaks me out a little lol
But is very interesting!!
Lol yes I’m easily freaked out by most things, including when I used to stay late at work by myself too. I watch way too many Datelines and 2020s for that.
We love touring castles. A flashlight tour of a haunted castle sounds fantastic! We do hope to make it to Ireland in the next couple of years, and I’m definitely adding Leap Castle to the itinerary. Luckily, I travel with my husband so I won’t do it alone!
That’s super cool! I hope you do get to go soon because I want to hear all about it! 🙂
Your photos are incredible. It looks like it is both lovely and frightening! Personally not a fan of scary stuff, but the thing I find most fascinating about ghost tours is the history that comes with them.
Oh you’d totally love the story about this place then. Such a long and rich history for you. 🙂