Unforgettable UK Stays and their Ancient Secrets
The Irish Chapter
Here’s your practical guide to the most genuinely haunted, bookable locations across Ireland. Well you have landed on the right page of the Book of 100 Unforgettable UK Stays and their secrets.
If you think you have a haunted property that is not listed, please get in touch, we would be more than happy to hear from you.
When you choose to stay in a building that has stood for centuries, you are not just booking a room—you are entering a living museum and sharing space with history that refuses to leave.
This land was carved by ancient forces, where the mist settles over Roman ruins and Norman castles, and the voices of the past are never truly silenced. From the hanging beams of ancient Inns to the lonely corridors of stately manors, history and mystery lurk around every corner.
Your quest for a truly immersive and chilling night’s sleep ends here. Pack your bags, charge your EMF meters, and prepare to meet the dearly departed of Britain.
Here is a list of 20 of our favourite bookable Hotels, Castles, and Unique Stays across the island of Ireland. We’ll take a look at the atmosphere of these special buildings, what type of stay you can expect and essential booking information for each accommodation.
IRELAND: The Land of Castles
Ballygally Castle Hotel
Essential Booking: Ballygally Castle. Guests can book the famed ‘Ghost Room.’ Booking: Standard hotel stay; highly popular
1. Ballygally Castle Hotel
County Antrim (NI)
Luxury/Historic
Atmosphere – Gothic Charm
Lady Isabella Shaw (friendly but active). Guests can book the famed ‘Ghost Room’ in the tower. Friendly, coastal castle with a famous (but benign) ghost.
Haunting – Lady Isabella Shaw
Ballyseede Castle Hotel
Essential Booking: Ballyseede Castle. Standard hotel stay, famed for its elegance and atmosphere
2. Ballyseede Castle Hotel
County Kerry
County Kerry. Hotel Luxury. Traditional 16th-century elegance with period rooms and high-end dining
Atmosphere: Elegant Eeriness
A stunning, traditional 16th-century castle with period rooms and high-end dining. Gothic Charm. Friendly, coastal castle with a famous (but benign) ghost.
Haunting – The spirit of Hilda and Gerald Fitzgerald (the beheaded owner)
Blackwater Castle
Essential Booking: Blackwater Castle. Private rental only; ideal for large investigation groups or luxury retreats
3. Blackwater Castle
County Cork. Unique Castle Rental Unique/Private Luxu
An entire 9,000-year-old historic castle available for private group rental. Haunting – Lady Roche, who led the defence during Cromwellian attacks.
Atmosphere: Ancient Isolation. 9,000-year-old historic stone fortress perfect for group exploration
Cabra Castle Hotel
Essential Booking: Cabra Castle Hotel. Standard luxury hotel stay; a fairytale setting with a spooky edge
4. Cabra Castle Hotel
Castle Hotel. County Cavan
Atmosphere – Fairytale Spooky. Magnificent 19th-century setting, popular for weddings, with a distinct chill
Magnificent 19th-century castle set in 100 acres of parkland; popular wedding venue. Haunting: –The ‘Ghost of the Servant Girl’ (a tale of tragic forbidden love and murder)
Castle Leslie Estate
Essential Booking: Castle Leslie Estate. Standard booking options. Wide range of luxury accommodation options
5. Castle Leslie Estate
County MonaghanCastle/Lodge/Cottage/ Unique Glamping
Atmosphere: Aristocratic Chill. Vast estate offering a variety of subtle, upper-class hauntings
Offers rooms in the castle, the lodge, and self-catering mews/cottages. Wide range of options from high-end castle rooms to comfortable self-catering. Haunting –Norman Leslie (who dislikes loud guests), not forgetting Lady Constance
Clontarf Castle Hotel
Essential Booking – Clontarf Castle Hotel. Standard 4-star hotel stay; a convenient haunted base near the capital
6. Clontarf Castle Hotel
County Dublin. Castle Hotel, Luxury, Historic
Atmosphere – Urban Mystery. Beautifully restored Norman castle close to Dublin city, with deep history
A beautifully restored 12th-century Norman castle, close to Dublin city centre.Haunting: Reports of hearing unseen footsteps, phantom apparitions, and mysterious sounds
The Commodore Hotel
Essential Booking – The Commodore Hotel. Standard hotel booking; noted for a high number of paranormal reports
7. The Commodore Hotel
County Cork.
Atmosphere -Unique/Budget-Friendly. Historic environs
A historic hotel with a troubled past near the harbour. Haunting: Spirits from its use as a WWI hospital and morgue. Eerie cries of a baby have been reported in upper rooms. Spirits from its use as a WWI hospital and morgue.
Dobbins Inn
Essential Booking – Dobbins Inn. B&B stay; check for the oldest sections of the building
8. Dobbins Inn
Carrickfergus, County Antrim (NI). Historic Inn – B&B
Atmosphere: Unique/Traditional
A historic tower house dating back to the 13th century. Haunting: ‘Maud’, a tragic spirit associated with the Inn’s past. Rustic History. Authentic, small, 13th-century tower house with a strong local spirit
Dromoland Castle
Essential Booking: Dromoland Castle. High-end luxury stay; the hauntings are a subtle addition to the experience
9. Dromoland Castle
County Clare. Luxury Castle Hotel
Atmosphere – Subtle Elegance
A magnificent 5-star castle resort known for its impeccable service and grounds. Haunting: ‘The Lady in Blue’ and occasionally the mournful cry of a Banshee. A highly polished, 5-star experience where the hauntings are usually gentle
Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel
Essential Booking: Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel. Standard hotel stay; offers a castle feel close to Dublin
10. Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel
Dublin Castle Hotel Luxury and scenic
A family-owned 18th-century castle offering spectacular views of Dublin Bay.Haunting: The presence of a ‘Grey Lady’ who wanders the older parts of the castle.
Atmosphere – Family Friendly Chill. A family-owned castle with great views.
Kilkea Castle Hotel
Essential Booking: The Kilkea Castle. Standard booking, but try booking direct for best prices
11. Kilkea Castle Hotel
County Kildare. Castle Hotel / Lodges/Luxury a unique mix
Atmosphere – Ancient fortitude
One of Ireland’s oldest castles with modern luxury and historic lodges.Haunting: The ‘Wizard Earl’ (Gerald FitzGerald), who returns every seven years, sometimes on horseback
Kinnitty Castle Hotel
Essential Booking: Kinnitty Castle Hotel. Request the Geraldine or Elizabeth bedrooms for activity.
12. Kinnitty Castle Hotel
Castle Hotel. County Offaly. Luxury/Gothic
Atmosphere: Medieval, charming, fairy tale
A grand, opulent 13th-century Gothic castle set in the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Haunting: The most famous is the Phantom Monk, ‘Hugh,’ often seen in the Library Bar
The Lake Hotel
Killarney Upper Lake near the Hotel. Essential Booking: Standard hotel stay; great for guests who enjoy nature. Beautiful lakeside setting with an ancient spirit connected to the Abbey
13. The Lake Hotel
Killarney, County Kerry. Historic Hotel
Atmosphere: Historic,Scenic,tranquil mystery
Built in 1820 near Lough Leane and Muckross Abbey. Haunting: The ghost of Donal McCarthy Mor, the founder of Muckross Abbey, seen in the bar. . Beautiful lakeside setting with an ancient spirit connected to the Abbey
Leap Castle
Booking – Not a hotel. Must arrange a visit or investigation tour directly with the owners
14. Leap Castle
County Offaly
Atmosphere: Extreme Darkness
Widely called Ireland’s most haunted castle. Privately owned.Haunting: The ‘Bloody Chapel’ murder, the deadly Elemental, and the ‘Red Lady.’ Booking: Not a hotel. Must arrange a visit or paranormal investigation tour directly with the owners
Maldron Hotel
Essential Booking: Maldron Hotel. Standard modern hotel booking; offers a spooky history in a convenient city location.
15. Maldron Hotel
Shandon, County Cork
Modern Hotel (Historic Building)Unique/City
Housed in a building that was once the North Infirmary Hospital (1720). Haunting: The apparition of a woman who died during childbirth and numerous other ailing spirits
Markree Castle
Essential Booking: Markee Castle. Luxury hotel booking; renowned for its opulent decor
16. Markree Castle
County Sligo.
Castle Hotel Luxury
A beautifully restored 17th-century castle set on 500 acres.Haunting – ‘Pippa,’ the ghost of a playful little girl.
Atmosphere: Playful Opulence
Renvyle House Hotel
Essential Booking: Renvyle House Hotel. *Tully mountain and Renvyle lough near the hotel. Standard luxury hotel stay, known for its tranquil setting
17. Renvyle House Hotel
Connemara, County Galway. County Offaly
Historic house overlooking the Atlantic Ocean; a haven for poets. Haunting: Ghosts that remained even after the house was burned down by the IRA and rebuilt. Reports of bed sheets being tugged
Atmosphere: Known for its tranquil, scenic setting. Coastal Resilience
Ross Castle
The Irish Sea. Booking Essential: Ross Castle B&B. Where modern day meets the ancient B&B stay; check for availability as a high-demand, unique experience.
18. Ross Castle
County Meath. Historic Castle Unique/Intimate. Cottages, entire castle, B&B
Atmosphere – Unique experience.Tragic Intimacy
A small, charming castle that operates as a B&B and small cottage packages as well as booking the entire castle. Haunting: The tragic father-daughter duo: Sabina (who starved herself after losing her lover) and the ‘Black Baron’ (her cruel father)
The Shelbourne Hotel
Essential Booking:The Shelbourne Hotel. High-end hotel booking; subtle hauntings on the sixth floor
19. The Shelbourne Hotel
Dublin. Luxury Hotel Ultra-Luxury
Atmosphere: Gentle City Ghostly
A grand, iconic 5-star hotel in the heart of Dublin on St. Stephen’s Green. Haunting – Mary Masters, the gentle ghost of a mischievous seven-year-old girl who died in 1846
Wilton Castle
Essential Booking – Wilton Castle. Often available for exclusive rental, check for limited B&B availability too
20. Wilton Castle
County Wexford. Castle Rental – B&B (Limited)Unique/Boutique
Atmosphere: Eerie Isolation
A picturesque 13th-century castle known for its spooky setting. Haunting: The spirit of Harry Alcock is seen driving away in a ‘death coach’ on the anniversary of his death