- Ballyvaughan and the Ghostly Fisherman: Ballyvaughan’s shores are haunted by a ghostly fisherman, seen mending nets, believed to have drowned in Galway Bay. The Burren’s coastal communities faced frequent sea tragedies. Dúchas.ie includes tales of spectral fishermen tied to Ballyvaughan’s maritime history. Ballyvaughan, County Clare.
- Bunratty Castle and the Banshee’s Cry: Bunratty Castle is haunted by a banshee, whose wail foretells death for the O’Brien family, seen drifting through the halls. The 15th-century castle was an O’Brien stronghold, steeped in clan conflicts. Dúchas.ie records banshee tales tied to Bunratty’s Gaelic heritage. Bunratty Castle, near Bunratty, County Clare.
- Craggaunowen and the Spectral Druid: Craggaunowen’s woods are haunted by a spectral druid, seen near the ring fort, guarding ancient rituals. The area’s prehistoric sites inspire tales of druidic spirits. Dúchas.ie mentions ghostly figures tied to Craggaunowen’s Celtic past. Craggaunowen, near Quin, County Clare.
- Doonagore Castle and the Hanged Pirate: Doonagore Castle is haunted by a pirate, hanged in the 16th century, whose ghost is seen swinging from a spectral rope. The castle, built by the O’Briens, was linked to coastal raids. Local lore ties the ghost to executions of captured pirates, per oral tradition. Doonagore Castle, near Doolin, County Clare.
- Dysert O’Dea Castle and the Headless Warrior: Dysert O’Dea Castle is haunted by a headless warrior, believed to be an O’Dea clansman beheaded in battle, roaming the grounds. The 15th-century castle was a site of clan warfare. Dúchas.ie records tales of headless spirits linked to its violent past. Dysert O’Dea Castle, near Corofin, County Clare.
- Ennistymon House and the Phantom Coach: Ennistymon House is haunted by a ghostly horse-drawn coach, driven by a spectral figure, believed to be a cursed O’Brien family member. The 18th-century house was an O’Brien residence. Dúchas.ie includes tales of phantom coaches tied to its aristocratic history. Ennistymon House, Ennistymon, County Clare.
- Kilkee Cliffs and the Drowned Fisherman: Kilkee’s cliffs are haunted by a drowned fisherman, whose ghostly moans and wet footsteps are heard during storms. Kilkee’s fishing community faced frequent sea tragedies in the 19th century. Dúchas.ie mentions spectral figures tied to coastal drownings. Kilkee Cliffs, Kilkee, County Clare.
- Knappogue Castle and the Lady in White: Knappogue Castle is haunted by a Lady in White, believed to be a MacNamara family member, seen wandering the corridors in sorrow. Built in 1467, the castle saw clan disputes and sieges. Local lore links the ghost to a tragic love story, per oral tradition. Knappogue Castle, near Quin, County Clare.
- Leamaneh Castle and Máire Rua’s Ghost: Leamaneh Castle is haunted by Máire Rua, a 17th-century noblewoman, whose red-clad spirit roams the ruins, seeking vengeance. Máire Rua O’Brien’s fierce reputation and the castle’s violent history fuel the legend. Dúchas.ie includes accounts of her spectral presence. Leamaneh Castle, near Corofin, County Clare.
- Liscannor Church and the Phantom Bell: Liscannor Church is haunted by a phantom bell that tolls at midnight, rung by a ghostly parishioner lost in a storm. The church, near Saint Brigid’s Well, has tales of rural tragedies. Dúchas.ie records stories of spectral bells linked to lost souls in Liscannor. Liscannor Church, Liscannor, County Clare.
- Saint Brigid’s Well in Liscannor: Saint Brigid’s Well offers cures for ailments, especially eye diseases, when pilgrims perform rituals with its water and nearby rag trees. Saint Brigid, a 5th-century saint, is linked to healing wells in Irish Christian folklore. Dúchas.ie documents the well’s popularity among Clare pilgrims. Liscannor, near Lahinch, County Clare.
- The Cursed Stone of Cahercommaun: A stone at Cahercommaun ring fort is cursed, causing misfortune to those who disturb 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 Clare’s Burren region. Cahercommaun, near Carron, County Clare.
- The Fairy Fort of Mooghaun: Mooghaun’s ring fort 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 notes local fears in Mooghaun of fairy retribution for trespassing. Mooghaun, near Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare.
- The Fairy Hawthorn of Ennistymon: A lone hawthorn tree in Ennistymon 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 Ennistymon avoiding such trees to appease fairies. Ennistymon, County Clare.
- The Fairy Music of Craggaunowen: Craggaunowen’s woods echo with fairy music at night, 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 near Craggaunowen, enhancing its mystical reputation. Craggaunowen, near Quin, County Clare.
- The Ghost of Leamaneh Castle: Leamaneh Castle is haunted by Máire Rua, a 17th-century noblewoman, whose ghost, clad in red, roams the ruins, seeking vengeance for her turbulent life. Máire Rua O’Brien’s legend stems from her fierce reputation and the castle’s violent history. Dúchas.ie includes tales of her spectral presence in Clare. Leamaneh Castle, near Corofin, County Clare.
- The Hag of Loop Head: The Cailleach Bhéara, a mythical hag, haunts Loop Head, controlling storms and luring sailors to their doom with her supernatural powers. The Cailleach is a Celtic deity linked to weather and creation. Dúchas.ie records tales of her presence on Clare’s wild coast, tying her to Loop Head’s dramatic cliffs. Loop Head, near Kilkee, County Clare.
- The Mermaid of Kilkee: A mermaid haunts the waters off Kilkee, luring fishermen to their deaths with her enchanting song or warning them of storms. Mermaids in Irish folklore blend beauty and danger, often tied to coastal communities. Dúchas.ie records tales of Kilkee’s mermaid, linked to the area’s fishing tradition. Kilkee, County Clare.
- The Púca of the Burren: The Burren’s rocky landscape is home to a púca, a shape-shifting creature appearing as a black goat or horse, tricking travellers or offering cryptic prophecies. The púca is a mischievous figure in Irish mythology, suited to the Burren’s stark terrain. Dúchas.ie mentions púca sightings in Clare, tied to liminal spaces. The Burren, near Ballyvaughan, County Clare.
Haunted
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County Clare:
Ireland’s county Clare is renowned for its dramatic cliffs and traditional heritage, with the Cliffs of Moher offering breathtaking views over the Atlantic. The Burren’s unique limestone landscape provides hiking and rare flora, while Bunratty Castle offers medieval history with its restored interiors. Check out the traditional music scene in Doolin and the county’s coastal beaches. Clare is Ireland’s eighth largest county by size (3,188 square km) and 19th largest by population (127,938). Population peaked at 286,394 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 73,597 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Clare is Ireland’s sixth most visited tourist county with around 485,000 international visitors per year.
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