15 Haunted Castles in Ireland You Can Stay In or Visit

Quick answer: The most haunted castle in Ireland is usually said to be Leap Castle in Co. Offaly (private; visits by arrangement only). The best haunted castles you can stay in are Kilkea (Kildare), Ballyseede (Kerry), Cabra (Cavan), Kinnitty (Offaly), Castle Leslie (Monaghan), Ross Castle (Meath) and, in Northern Ireland, Ballygally (Antrim), which has its own Ghost Room. To visit by day, try Malahide, Charleville, Kilkenny, Dunluce or Carrickfergus.

Ireland has more than 30,000 castles and castle ruins, and almost every one has a ghost story. This guide is about the castles: which haunted castles you can actually sleep in, and which you can visit by day. For gaols, ruins, pubs and ancient sites, see my full guide to the most haunted places in Ireland.

I’ve visited many of these castles myself, from afternoon tea at Castle Leslie and the woods at Cabra to Ballyseede, Ballygally, Kilkenny, Dunluce and Carrickfergus. What strikes me every time is that the ghost stories are almost always rooted in real history: murders, sieges, family feuds and heartbreak. I’ve kept the two separate below, so you can tell the history from the legend.

Haunted Castles in Ireland: Fast Facts

Stay or Visit? All 15 Castles at a Glance

Map – Where to find haunted castles in Ireland

Haunted Castle Hotels You Can Stay In

For more castle stays (haunted or not), see my guide to castle hotels in Ireland.

1. Kilkea Castle, Co. Kildare

Built in the late 12th century, Kilkea is one of Ireland’s oldest continuously lived-in castles. Its ghost is Gerald FitzGerald, the 11th Earl of Kildare, the “Wizard Earl”, who dabbled in alchemy and the dark arts. Legend says he turned himself into a bird to prove his powers to his wife, only for a black cat to pounce, and he was never seen in human form again. He is said to ride out every seven years on a silver-shod horse. Guests also report a little girl in the corridor to the old nursery and a woman in white crossing the courtyard.

Stay: the Haunted Room at the top of the main tower is kept unused, except for ghost tours. The hotel has run after-dark ghost tours for guests in autumn. See Kilkea Castle and my guide to things to do in Co. Kildare.

2. Kinnitty Castle, Co. Offaly

A Gothic castle hotel at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, burned in 1922 and rebuilt in 1929. Its best-known spirit is the Phantom Monk, said to belong to a monastery on the site long before the castle; he’s reported to appear to guests with warnings. The castle has featured on TV’s Most Haunted.

Stay: book Kinnitty Castle. More in things to do in Co. Offaly.

3. Ballyseede Castle, Co. Kerry

Just outside Tralee, Ballyseede was a Fitzgerald stronghold during the 16th-century Desmond Rebellions, and later home to the Blennerhassetts for generations, whose rent was famously paid partly with a red rose picked each Midsummer. Its ghost is Hilda Blennerhassett, the last of the family to live here, who died in 1965. Staff report the scent of roses on the top floor, though none are kept in the castle, and an old woman in a black Victorian dress on the staircase. I’ve visited myself, and the atmosphere alone makes the story easy to believe.

Stay: book Ballyseede Castle. More in the best things to do in Kerry.

4. Cabra Castle, Co. Cavan

Cabra’s ghost is Sarah, a servant girl said to have been killed in the 1780s after becoming pregnant by the owners’ son; her body was hung from a bridge on the estate. A baby’s cry is still said to be heard at night, guests report a presence near the “Hanging Tree”, and one guest heard a carriage arrive and leave a crying infant on the steps. In 2010, TripAdvisor users voted Cabra the second scariest hotel in Ireland. I’ve spent time wandering the woods on the Cabra estate myself.

Stay: book Cabra Castle. More in the best things to do in Cavan.

5. Castle Leslie Estate, Co. Monaghan

Still owned by the Leslie family after more than 350 years, Castle Leslie has a long tradition of ghost stories. The best known are reports of family members seen in the house, including in the Red Room. I’ve had afternoon tea there myself, and can vouch for the atmosphere, ghosts or not.

Stay: rooms in the castle itself or the Lodge. See Castle Leslie Estate and things to do in Co. Monaghan.

6. Ross Castle, Lough Sheelin, Co. Meath

Not to be confused with Ross Castle in Killarney. This 16th-century tower house on the Meath–Cavan border was home to Richard Nugent, the “Black Baron”. His daughter Sabina eloped by boat with her lover Orwin, a son of a rival clan; the boat capsized on Lough Sheelin, Orwin drowned, and Sabina died of a broken heart in the tower. Her weeping is said to be heard in the early hours, and the Baron himself is said to stalk the stairs.

Stay: the castle is rented to overnight guests; book through Ross Castle. See things to do in Meath.

Haunted Castles You Can Visit by Day

7. Leap Castle, Co. Offaly

Usually called the most haunted castle in Ireland. In 1532, a priest of the O’Carroll clan was murdered by his own brother while saying Mass in what became known as the Bloody Chapel. Workmen later found an oubliette, a pit lined with spikes, holding the remains of many people. The castle is said to host a Red Lady with a dagger and a foul-smelling “elemental” known only as “It”.

Visit: a private family home; visits only by prior arrangement with the owners. Don’t turn up unannounced.

8. Charleville Castle, Co. Offaly

A Gothic Revival castle in ancient oak woods outside Tullamore, in the Heartlands of Ireland – which appeared in Netflix’s Wednesday. Its ghost is Harriet, the young daughter of the 3rd Earl of Charleville, who died after a fall on the main staircase in 1861; children’s laughter and singing are reported from the empty nursery. Visit: volunteer-led guided tours, including ghost tours, at various times; check the castle’s website or call ahead.

9. Malahide Castle, Co. Dublin

Home to the Talbot family for almost 800 years, Malahide is said to have five ghosts. The best known is Puck, a jester who fell in love with a prisoner, Lady Elenora Fitzgerald, and was found stabbed in the grounds; he’s said to have sworn to haunt the castle, and some visitors claim he appears in photographs. Visit: castle tour and gardens €16 adult, €8.50 child, €46 family; easy by DART from Dublin.

10. Kilkenny Castle, Co. Kilkenny

Seat of the Butlers of Ormonde for almost 600 years. Local ghost tours tell of a White Lady, believed to be a Butler family member, seen in a white gown in the halls. I’ve toured the castle myself, and the state rooms alone are worth the trip, ghost story or not. Visit: €8 self-guided, €12 guided (2026); closed 2–5 November 2026 for filming. See my full Kilkenny Castle guide, and visiting Kilkenny for the city’s ghost tours.

11. Clonony Castle, Co. Offaly

A tower house near Shannonbridge with a Boleyn connection: in 1803, a grave was found near the castle said to hold Elizabeth and Mary Boleyn, cousins of Anne Boleyn. A tall figure dressed in old-fashioned clothes is said to appear on the battlements. Visit: privately owned; view from outside, with occasional open days.

12. Huntington Castle, Clonegal, Co. Carlow

A 17th-century castle, Huntington is built on an older tower house, garrisoned by Cromwell’s army in 1650, and the setting for Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon. Since 1976 its basement has been home to the Fellowship of Isis, with a temple to the goddess, which gives the house a mystical reputation, and it has its own ghost stories. Visit: a family home, with rooms available – open for guided tours from June to September; the gardens include a yew walk and woodland along the River Derry.

Haunted Castles in Northern Ireland

For more ghosts in the North, see my guide to haunted places in Northern Ireland.

13. Ballygally Castle, Co. Antrim (Stay)

A castle hotel on the Antrim coast built in 1625. Lady Isobel Shaw is said to have been locked in a tower room by her husband after she failed to give him a son, and to have fallen, or jumped, to her death. She is reported to knock on doors and then vanish. The hotel keeps her “Ghost Room” at the top of the tower open for guests to visit. I’ve visited Ballygally and this stretch of the Causeway Coastal Route myself, including stopping to see one of the carved Game of Thrones doors along the coast.

Stay: book Ballygally Castle. More in things to do in Co. Antrim.

14. Dunluce Castle, Co. Antrim (Visit)

A ruined castle on the cliff edge near Portrush. Legend says that in 1639 part of the kitchen fell into the sea during a storm, taking the servants with it. The north-east tower is said to be haunted by Maeve Roe, a MacQuillan daughter locked there for refusing to marry her father’s choice, who drowned trying to escape with her lover. I’ve visited many times, and the drop from the castle to the sea is genuinely scary. Visit: open year-round, weather permitting. See my Dunluce Castle guide.

15. Carrickfergus Castle, Co. Antrim (Visit)

Built by John de Courcy from 1177, Carrickfergus is one of the best-preserved Norman castles in Ireland. Its ghost is “Buttoncap”, said to be a soldier who still walks the castle. I’ve toured Carrickfergus myself, and it remains one of the most intact Norman castles I’ve seen anywhere in Ireland. Visit: open year-round, with free guided tours included in entry. See my Carrickfergus Castle guide.

Two More Haunted Castle Hotels Worth Knowing

Markree Castle, Co. Sligo: home of “Pippa”, a mischievous little girl said to lock guests in their rooms and knock over trays; staff say small gifts keep her happy.

Blackwater Castle, Co. Cork: said to be haunted by Lady Roche in a dark hooded cloak.

Planning a Haunted Castle Stay

• Book Halloween early. Castle hotels sell their Halloween weekends months ahead, often as packages with dinner and a ghost tour.
• Ask about the room. Some hotels, including Kilkea and Ballygally, are happy to tell you which rooms have the stories, and some keep a haunted room you can visit but not sleep in.
• Go in winter for atmosphere. Long dark evenings, log fires and empty corridors do more than any ghost tour.
• Respect private castles. Leap, Clonony and Huntington are family homes: visit only by arrangement or on open days.
• Check access. Castle hotels have lifts and accessible rooms in their newer wings, but towers and haunted rooms usually mean narrow spiral stairs. Ruins like Dunluce have uneven, exposed ground. Malahide and Kilkenny have paved paths and facilities.
• Use an OPW Heritage Card for state-run sites like Kilkenny Castle.

For ruins without the ghosts, see my guide to castle ruins in Ireland, and for the folklore behind the stories, Irish culture and folklore.

Haunted Castles in Ireland FAQ

What is the most haunted castle in Ireland?

Leap Castle in County Offaly is usually called the most haunted castle in Ireland, because of the 1532 murder of a priest in its Bloody Chapel and the human remains found in its oubliette. It is a private home, and visits are by prior arrangement only.

Can you stay overnight in a haunted castle in Ireland?

Yes. Haunted castles you can stay in include Kilkea Castle (Kildare), Kinnitty Castle (Offaly), Ballyseede Castle (Kerry), Cabra Castle (Cavan), Castle Leslie (Monaghan), Ross Castle on Lough Sheelin (Meath) and, in Northern Ireland, Ballygally Castle (Antrim).

Which haunted castle hotel has a ghost room?

Ballygally Castle in County Antrim keeps a Ghost Room at the top of its tower, linked to Lady Isobel Shaw, which guests can visit. Kilkea Castle in Kildare keeps a Haunted Room in its main tower that is used only for ghost tours.

Who haunts Kilkea Castle?

Kilkea Castle is said to be haunted by Gerald FitzGerald, the 11th Earl of Kildare, known as the Wizard Earl, who practised alchemy and the dark arts. Guests also report a little girl near the old nursery and a woman in white in the courtyard.

Who is the ghost at Ballyseede Castle?

Ballyseede Castle near Tralee is said to be haunted by Hilda Blennerhassett, the last of the family to live there, who died in 1965. Staff report the scent of roses on the top floor and an old woman in black on the staircase.

Is Cabra Castle haunted?

Cabra Castle in Kingscourt, County Cavan, is said to be haunted by Sarah, a servant girl killed in the 1780s, whose baby’s cries are still reported at night. In 2010, TripAdvisor users voted it the second scariest hotel in Ireland.

Can you visit Leap Castle?

Leap Castle is privately owned and lived in, so it is not open like a regular attraction. Visits have only been possible by prior arrangement with the owners.

Is Malahide Castle haunted?

Malahide Castle is said to have five ghosts, the best known being Puck, a jester who was found stabbed after falling in love with a prisoner. Castle tours cost €16 for adults in 2026.

Are there haunted castles in Northern Ireland?

Yes. Ballygally Castle in County Antrim is a hotel with a Ghost Room, Dunluce Castle is said to be haunted by Maeve Roe, and Carrickfergus Castle has a ghost known as Buttoncap.

When is the best time to stay in a haunted castle in Ireland?

October to February gives long, dark evenings and the most atmosphere. Halloween weekends at castle hotels such as Kilkea and Cabra sell out months ahead, so book early.

Why does Ireland have so many haunted castles?

Ireland’s castles saw centuries of sieges, rebellions, clan feuds and family tragedies, and Ireland has a strong tradition of oral storytelling. Most castle ghost stories grew from real historical events.

What is the difference between this list and the most haunted places in Ireland?

This guide covers castles only, and whether you can stay in them or visit by day. The most haunted places in Ireland guide covers 41 sites, including gaols, ruins, pubs and ancient sites, North and South.

More Haunted Ireland

• The Most Haunted Places in Ireland: 41 gaols, castles, ruins and ancient sites
• Haunted Places in Northern Ireland
• Castle Hotels in Ireland and Castle Ruins in Ireland
• Samhain in Ireland and Irish Folklore
• Irish Witches
• Ireland Travel Guide