- Ballinamore and the Ghostly Horseman: Ballinamore’s roads are haunted by a ghostly horseman, believed to be an O’Rourke warrior killed in battle, seeking his lost home. The area saw 16th-century clan conflicts. Dúchas.ie records tales of spectral riders tied to Ballinamore’s violent past. Ballinamore, County Leitrim.
- Carrigallen and the Lady in Grey: Carrigallen is haunted by a Lady in Grey, seen near the old manor, believed to be a former resident mourning a lost child. The 19th-century manor saw family tragedies. Local lore links the ghost to domestic dramas, per oral tradition. Carrigallen, County Leitrim.
- Drumkeerin and the Spectral Druid: Drumkeerin’s standing stones are haunted by a spectral druid, seen guarding ancient rituals at dusk. The area’s megalithic sites inspire druidic tales. Dúchas.ie records ghostly figures tied to Drumkeerin’s prehistoric past. Drumkeerin, County Leitrim.
- Glencar Waterfall and the Ghostly Piper: Glencar Waterfall is haunted by a ghostly piper, whose music echoes at dusk, believed to be a musician killed in a feud. The area’s rural history includes clan disputes. Dúchas.ie mentions tales of spectral music tied to Glencar’s folklore. Glencar Waterfall, near Drumcliff, County Leitrim.
- Kinlough Church and the Phantom Bell: Kinlough Church is haunted by a phantom bell that tolls at midnight, rung by a ghostly parishioner lost in a storm. The church, tied to Saint Molaise, has tales of rural tragedies. Dúchas.ie mentions spectral bells linked to Kinlough’s folklore. Kinlough Church, Kinlough, County Leitrim.
- Lough Melvin and the Drowned Fisherman: Lough Melvin’s shores are haunted by a drowned fisherman, whose ghostly moans and wet footsteps are heard during storms. The lake’s fishing communities faced frequent tragedies. Dúchas.ie includes tales of spectral fishermen tied to Lough Melvin’s maritime history. Lough Melvin, near Rossinver, County Leitrim.
- Lough Scur and the Banshee’s Wail: Lough Scur’s shores are haunted by a banshee, her cry foretelling death for O’Rourke families, heard in the reeds at night. Banshees are female spirits tied to Gaelic clans. Dúchas.ie notes banshee cries near Lough Scur, linked to its clan heritage. Lough Scur, near Keshcarrigan, County Leitrim.
- Manorhamilton Castle and the Phantom Coach: Manorhamilton Castle is haunted by a ghostly horse-drawn coach, driven by a spectral figure, believed to be a cursed MacRannall clan member. The 17th-century castle saw Plantation disputes. Dúchas.ie includes tales of phantom coaches tied to its aristocratic past. Manorhamilton Castle, Manorhamilton, County Leitrim.
- Parke’s Castle and the Spectral Woman: Parke’s Castle is haunted by a ghostly woman, seen wandering the battlements, believed to be a Planter’s daughter mourning a lost love. The 17th-century castle was a site of Plantation-era conflicts. Dúchas.ie records tales of spectral figures tied to its turbulent history. Parke’s Castle, near Dromahair, County Leitrim.
- Saint Molaise’s Well in Kinlough: Saint Molaise’s Well offers cures for ailments, particularly skin diseases, when pilgrims perform rituals with its water and nearby rag trees. Saint Molaise, a 6th-century saint, is linked to early Christian sites in Leitrim. Dúchas.ie documents the well’s healing reputation, blending Christian and pagan traditions. Kinlough, County Leitrim.
- Sheemore Hill and the Spectral Warrior: Sheemore Hill is haunted by a spectral warrior, believed to be a Celtic fighter, seen patrolling the ancient fort. The hill is linked to Iron Age fortifications. Dúchas.ie mentions ghostly warriors tied to Sheemore’s mythological past. Sheemore, near Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim.
- The Banshee of Lough Scur: A banshee haunts Lough Scur’s shores, her wail foretelling death for families like the O’Rourkes, tied to Leitrim’s Gaelic heritage. Banshees are female spirits linked to specific clans. Dúchas.ie notes banshee cries near Lough Scur, reflecting rural omens of death. Lough Scur, near Keshcarrigan, County Leitrim.
- The Cursed Stone of Drumkeerin: A standing stone in Drumkeerin is cursed, causing misfortune to those who touch or move it, as it marks a druidic site protected by ancient spells. Megalithic stones are linked to druids or fairies in Irish lore. Dúchas.ie notes local fears of disturbing stones in Leitrim’s rural areas. Drumkeerin, County Leitrim.
- The Fairy Fort of Drumhierny: A ring fort in Drumhierny is a fairy fort, home to the aos sí (fairy folk), who curse those who disturb it with illness or misfortune. Ring forts, Iron Age structures, are seen as Otherworld portals in Celtic folklore. Dúchas.ie records local fears in Drumhierny of fairy retribution for trespassing. Drumhierny, near Leitrim village, County Leitrim.
- The Fairy Hawthorn of Manorhamilton: A lone hawthorn tree in Manorhamilton is a fairy tree, sacred to the aos sí, and cutting it invites curses like illness or livestock death. Fairy trees are rooted in Celtic beliefs about the Otherworld. Dúchas.ie records farmers in Manorhamilton avoiding such trees to prevent fairy retribution. Manorhamilton, County Leitrim.
- The Fairy Music of Glencar: Glencar’s waterfall and woods echo with fairy music at dusk, luring listeners into the Otherworld if they follow the sound. Fairy music is a common motif in Irish folklore, tied to enchanted landscapes. Dúchas.ie mentions supernatural sounds in Glencar, enhancing its mystical reputation. Glencar Waterfall, near Drumcliff, County Leitrim.
- The Ghost of Parke’s Castle: Parke’s Castle is haunted by the ghost of a woman, possibly a Planter’s daughter, seen wandering the battlements, mourning a lost love. Built in the 17th century, the castle was a site of conflict during the Plantation. Dúchas.ie includes tales of spectral figures tied to its turbulent history. Parke’s Castle, near Dromahair, County Leitrim.
- The Mermaid of Lough Melvin: A mermaid haunts Lough Melvin, luring fishermen to their deaths with her song or warning them of storms. Mermaids in Irish folklore blend beauty and danger, tied to Leitrim’s lakes. Dúchas.ie includes tales of mermaids in Lough Melvin’s waters. Lough Melvin, near Rossinver, County Leitrim.
- The Phantom Horseman of Ballinamore: A ghostly horseman rides near Ballinamore, believed to be an O’Rourke warrior killed in battle, seeking his lost home. Leitrim’s history of clan conflicts fosters ghost stories. Dúchas.ie records tales of spectral riders tied to Ballinamore’s turbulent past. Ballinamore, County Leitrim.
- The Púca of Sheemore: Sheemore Hill is home to a púca, a shape-shifting creature appearing as a black horse or goat, tricking travellers or offering cryptic warnings. The púca is a mischievous figure in Irish mythology, suited to Leitrim’s hills. Dúchas.ie mentions púca sightings on Sheemore’s rugged terrain. Sheemore, near Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim.
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Ireland’s county Leitrim is a haven of waterways and unspoilt scenery, with the Shannon-Erne Waterway offering tranquil boating and fishing opportunities. Carrick-on-Shannon’s historic Costello Chapel and vibrant marina provide cultural and leisurely appeal, while Glencar Waterfall adds natural beauty. Leitrim is Ireland’s seventh smallest county by size (1,525 square km) and smallest by population (35,199). Population peaked at 155,297 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 25,057 in 1996. In terms of hospitality, Leitrim is Ireland’s 29th most visited tourist county with around 39,000 international visitors per year.
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