Dubbed the world's most haunted castle, as well as the most haunted place in Ireland, Leap Castle was built sometime in the 13th century, with additions coming through the years, in Coolderry, County Offaly, Ireland by the O'Bannon Clan. Its original name was a Celtic translation for "Leap of the O'Bannons." The castle was built on land believed to have been occupied in some form since the Iron Age and even possibly dating as far back as the Neolithic Age.
Gerald Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare, tried to seize Leap in the 16th century twice and failed. But, the castle did fall to the control of the O'Carroll Clan, whom the O'Bannons actually served under. But, after Mulrooney O'Carroll died in 1532, a bloody family feud over leadership ensued, turning the brothers against one another, even causing one of the brothers to kill the other, who was a priest, right at the altar during a service.
The Darby Family gained ownership in 1639 after marrying into the clan. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Mildred Darby, whose husband was Leap owner John Charles Darby, began holding regular séances in the castle. Mildred was a well-known Gothic novelist who used the pen name Andrew Merry. Her input and claims about the house's haunted nature helped propel Leap to being known as one of the most haunted places in the world.
Parts of the castle were burned during the Irish Civil War in 1922, and many believe it to be because rents on the land and within the structure were raised to pay for extensions made on Leap at the time. In 1974, historian Peter Bartlett purchased the castle and conducted restorations until he died in 1989. A man named Sean Ryan has owned it since 1991 and he oversees the continuing repairs.
Leap Castle is also on the cover of Tim Winton's The Riders, which is a very good novel.
There are several ghost stories emanating from Leap:
THE BLOODY CHAPEL
This is the aforementioned incident where the priest was slain by his brother during a mass he was performing in one of the upper halls. It was a brutal killing, causing blood to soak the altar. Since then, the priest has been seen wandering about the room, exiting the western door before descending the stairs, and lurking in the shadows about and around the chapel.
The Oubliette in the room was once used by the O'Carrolls as a dungeon to hold captured and dying prisoners when they would attack the castle. The O'Carrolls would also hire other clans to eliminate nearby threats, and afterward would invite them back to Leap Castle to celebrate, only to poison them and slash their throats. They would then dispose of the corpses in the Oubliette and forget about them. Charles O'Carroll also had the entire MacMahon Clan killed and thrown into the little dungeon. When the area was cleaned out, numerous skeletons were found there, lending credibility to the stories, even if they may or may not be embellishments.
Many manifestations and strange occurrences have been reported in the Bloody Chapel as well as the great hall. A lot of ghosts are reported to wander aimlessly about the area, never interacting with the living. It is also said that a man's spirit lives in the Oubliette and will attack anyone who enters without permission. He has been known to strike, grab, shove, and choke trespassers.
The Bloody Chapel
The Oubliette, or possibly the Murder Hole
Two young girls--Charlotte and Emily--once lived at Leap Castle. Emily fell off a battlement atop the castle when she was 11. Emily's ghost is sometimes spotted replaying her death from the battlement, sailing to the ground below. Both spirits can be seen and heard playing in stairwells and hallways. They have sometimes been accompanied by an old nanny that likes to supervise them as they play and sit with them at lunch.
A woman was allegedly held captive and violated by the O'Carroll Clan, then committed suicide after her child was killed; she is seen wandering the home holding up a dagger in a threatening manner. A strange light glows within her and she creates a drastic drop in temperature in her surroundings. This supposed specter is called the Red Lady.
There is also a ghostly woman who was murdered by the O'Carrolls wandering the grounds, reported by Mildred years ago. Shadows and apparitions have been seen moving about the remnants of the Priest's House, which was burned during the Irish Civil War. There have been reports of people having their hands and legs grabbed by unseen forces in areas were gruesome murders transpired. An older gentleman has been seen lounging in a chair by the fire in the main hall.
It's hard to say how many of the claimed incidents were actually experienced by people in this castle. They all could just be the imagination of a Gothic novelist looking to sell books, furthered later by people who wanted to capitalize off the supernatural legends that survived the century. Or, maybe all the outrageous tales of the O'Carrolls' supposed brutality have merit and a lot of angry ghosts remain thanks to the savagery they felt at their hands. Sounds like a plot for an incredibly frightening film. But, they do say that sometimes real life is stranger than fiction. Maybe it's scarier, too.
For more frightening accounts of supposed real life haunts--and other cool ghostly things--follow our page at https://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleGhosts/.
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