Lip Castle - an Irish corner of creepy stories (17 photos)

About 3 kilometers from the Irish town of Roscrea is Leap Castle. This castle was built around 1250 and was home to the feared O'Carroll clan. But that's not the only thing that makes the castle infamous. Murders and deaths have taken place in this castle over the centuries. No other place in Ireland can compare to it in terms of ghosts.





The history of Leap Castle is bloody even before it was built. Two brothers from the O'Bannon clan fought each other for leadership. They had to jump off the cliff on which the castle was to be built. The surviving brother became the leader of the clan and received the castle. All this happened around 1250. The castle was called "Léim Uí Bhanáin", or "Bannon's Leap". The O'Bannons were the authorities in this area, but they were subordinated to an even more powerful clan - the O'Carrolls.

Hidden Treasure



In the 17th century, the ownership of the castle passed to the Darby family. One of the O'Carroll daughters married the English captain Darby. Their son, Jonathan Darby, hid his treasure in the grounds of the castle during the English Civil War. He ensured that his secret was kept by killing the two men who helped him bury the treasure. He was later imprisoned for treason. When he returned to the castle after his release, much had changed and he was unable to find his treasure. To this day, no one knows where the treasure is hidden.

Blood on the Altar





The walls of this castle have seen much violence, but the most gruesome murder committed here was in 1532. This murder took place in the castle chapel, now known as the "Bloody Chapel". That year, Mulroney O'Carroll (then chief of the clan) died, and there was much disagreement about who would be his next successor.

Officially, Thaddeus O'Carroll, the closest relative of the Mulroneys and the priest of the O'Carroll family, was supposed to lead the clan, but he never got the chance. Younger brother Tej O'Carroll plunged his blade into Thaddeus's back during mass. Thaddeus bled to death at the altar in front of his entire family. His ghost still haunts the chapel and often lights up the room.

Skeletons in the Closet



Thaddeus is just one of the many ghosts that haunt the castle. In 1922, workers made a grisly discovery in a hidden dungeon behind the wall of the Bloody Chapel. There, in the floor, they found an oubliette. An oubliette (from the French word "oublier," meaning "to forget") was a deep hole in the ground into which prisoners were thrown and simply forgotten. No less than three cartloads of human bones and skeletons were recovered from it. More than 150 human remains were found.



A pocket watch was found along with the skeletons. It was dated to the mid-1800s, so the pit had only recently been used. The bodies were impaled on long wooden spikes. It must be said that visitors sometimes feel an irresistible urge to throw themselves down.

A Business Deal Gone Wrong



But that's not all. The O'Carrolls hired about 40 members of the McMahon clan to teach them new military techniques. Thanks to the training, the O'Carrolls won the battle and decided to throw the McMahons a feast to thank them for their help. But the food they were given turned out to be poisoned. Just so the O'Carrolls wouldn't have to pay later. This shows how cruel this clan was back then. Of course, the McMahons still roam the castle as ghosts.

Other Spirits That Roam the Castle



There are many more restless souls roaming the castle and its grounds. Some are friendly, some are sad, and some are angry. The owner of the castle, Sean Ryan, knows them all. When he and his wife bought the castle in 1991, he wanted to restore it. But the ghosts disagreed. He fell down the stairs twice, got hurt, and had other accidents. He decided to call upon the spirits, telling them that he wanted their home restored so they could stay. Things started looking up after that.

The Friendly Ghosts of Leap Castle



The old man is often seen in a chair by the fireplace in the main hall. Little is known about him, but he is harmless.

The Great Hall is also the domain of two little girls, although they have been seen in other rooms of the castle. They are the spirits of Emily and Charlotte. Emily died at the age of 11 after falling from the ramparts. People claim to see her fall from a great height and disappear just before she hits the ground. Charlotte limps. It appears she suffered from a deformity of her leg. Another spirit is often seen with these girls. She is called the Governess. She takes care of the girls. They probably all lived in the 16th century.



The Rectory, built in 1571, is inhabited by a monk. The house is in ruins, having been destroyed by fire in 1922 during the Irish Civil War. Before the fire, it was possible to spend the night here. People who spent the night in the Vicarage claim that there was something very heavy in their beds (like a heavy body) and even snored.

A frightened, poorly dressed woman is also often seen. She screams twice before disappearing. Her screams are piercing to the point of trembling, but she does not harm anyone.

The Sad Ghosts of Leap Castle



The spirit of the murdered priest O'Carroll haunts the Bloody Chapel. People claim to see light pouring from its windows, although there is no electricity here. He is also seen on the stairs. Sometimes there is a smell of burning rubber.



The Red Lady is a scary and at the same time tragic ghost. She is often seen in the Blue Room, which used to be a nursery, but the lady can also be found in other parts of the castle. The Red Lady wears a long red dress, she is tall and thin, with long brown hair. She always holds a dagger in her hands, which she raises as if ready to strike.

There are two legends associated with this ghost. The first says that she was a victim of rape by one of the O'Carrolls. She became pregnant. When the child was born, the O'Carrolls killed him with a dagger. According to this version, she managed to take the dagger and commit suicide. According to another version, she tried to escape from the cruel O'Carrolls. She was pursued and eventually stabbed to death.

Elemental



The castle is also inhabited by a dark, ancient entity called an elemental. This entity has never been human. Before the castle was built, the land belonged to the Druids. The land was very fertile, so it had great significance to them. The Druids could call upon the elemental to protect their sacred land. Others say that Gerald Fitzgerald called upon the elemental to curse the O'Carrolls. The elemental has the ability to destroy the castle from the inside. The castle was partially destroyed on Fitzgerald's second attempt. The elemental does not manifest itself until challenged. It was last seen in 2006.

The Castle Today



Lipe Castle was burned and partially destroyed in 1922 by Irish civilians because it was in British hands. This caused the Darbys to abandon the castle. It remained a ruin until musician Sean Ryan and his wife Anne bought it in 1991. Sean restored the castle from photographs taken before it was destroyed. The Ryans have seen many spirits over the years, but fortunately have never encountered the elemental. They live in harmony with the many ghosts. You can come on a tour any day except Sunday. And perhaps the ghost hunt will be successful.