.jpg "Leap Castle")
Leap Castle, located
in County Offaly, Ireland, was built in the 1500s and is said to be Ireland’s
most haunted castle. It has borne witness to betrayal and bloodshed, along with
other atrocities.
The castle is one of Ireland’s longest continually inhabited
castles, and has a rich history to match. It was built in the 1500s by the O’Bannon
clan, who were the secondary chieftains under the O’Carroll clan. It is thought
that this current castle was built over a castle that existed before.
The castle was originally called “Leap of the O’Bannons.”
According to legend, two O’Bannon brothers were fighting to be the chieftain of
the clan. To settle the dispute, they decided to jump off the rocky outcrop
where the castle was going to be built in order to show off their strength and
bravery. Whichever brother survived would be the clan’s chieftain.
One of the main purposes of the castle was to be the
stronghold of the O’Carroll clan, used to guard the pass through the Slieve
Bloom Mountains. It is known to be one of the most well-fortified castles. The
O’Carrolls lost ownership of the castle in 1642 when it was sieged by John
Darby, an English soldier who was part of the Cromwellian forces.
Over the years, the castle has been remodeled numerous
times, mostly under the Darby’s. The Darby’s owned the castle from 1642 until
the castle burned in 1922. It remained dormant until 1974 until it was
purchased by Peter Bartlett. The Ryans are now continuing the work of keeping
the castle alive.
One of the spirits that roams the halls is the Governess or
the Nanny, who interacts more with guests than the owners. She is often seen
with two girls, Emily and Charlotte. She manifests by brushing against people.
Emily and Charlotte are believed to have lived in the castle in the 1600s and usually
play in the main hall or run in the stairwells.
The Elemental is a mysterious entity that has caused trouble
in the castle. Its exact shape is unknown, but there are theories about its
origins. One states that the Druids put the Elemental on the land before the
castle was there in order to protect the sacred site, which was used for
Druidic magick and initiations. Others say it was placed by invaders to burn
the castle from the inside. Theories from locals say that the Elemental is a
spirit of someone from the O’Carroll clan who died of leprosy. Still others
believe that Mildred Darby dabbled in the occult, and the Element was summoned
as a result of her dabbling. The current owners, who have lived at the castle
since 1991, have never felt its presence. However, the Elemental will show up
if provoked, and it has the potential to cause harm.
The Priest’s House is also said to be haunted. Most of the
accounts are from when the Darbys lived in the house, especially now that it is
empty. Shadowy forms are seen in what is supposed to be an empty building.
Visitors have heard chanting coming from the house, but as soon as it is
mentioned, the chanting stops. There is a presence that lies on beds and
snores, and people can feel a body pressing against them. A man dressed as a
peasant has been reported pushing a barrel up the stairs, and the barrel rolls
down the stairs once it reaches the top, disappearing right after. The
apparition of a monk has also been spotted.
The Murder Hole Room, also called the Muckle Hole Room, is
said to have been the host of multiple experiences when the Darbys lived in the
castle. However, now the exact location of the room is unknown. Mildred Darby
recounted several experiences she had in the room in an article, including a
hand grasping her hand, followed by the sound of prayers being spoken.
The apparition of a woman who was murdered by an O’Carroll
has also been seen and heard. She has very few clothes and her mouth is covered
by a red cloth. When she appears, she screams twice and then disappears.
The Red Lady is a tall apparition in a red dress. She has a
dagger raised in her hand, and a light radiates within her. When she appears,
those who see her describe a cold feeling that fills the room and then enters
their hearts. It is believed that this woman was captured and raped by an
O’Carroll. She became pregnant and had a baby as a result, but the O’Carroll
clan could not afford the feed the child so they killed him. She proceeded to
kill herself with the same blade.
The “Bloody Chapel” hosts many of the castle’s spirits. At
night, visitors have seen lights coming from the upper windows of the chapel,
which was reported even when there was no one occupying the castle. Visitors
have reported a smell of rubber in the upper hall. A priest has been spotted
roaming the chapel. The chapel is home to the oubliette, which is a chamber in
the northeastern corner of the chapel. It is believed that this chamber once
stored valuables but was also used to hide during a siege. Eventually, it was
modified to be a dungeon where they threw prisoners when they were dead or
dying, and they were left and forgotten there. This chamber was cleared out
when the Darbys moved in, and it is reported that three cartloads of skeletal
remains were removed. The current owners say the apparition of a man lives in
the oubliette.
Related Articles:
-Celtic Hauntings: Ringcroft: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/10/celtic-hauntings-ringcroft.html
-Celtic Hauntings: Ballechin House: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/10/celtic-hauntings-ballechin-house.html
-Celtic Hauntings: Pitmilly House: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/10/celtic-hauntings-pitmilly-house.html