- Ballynoe Stone Circle and the Spectral Druid: Ballynoe Stone Circle is haunted by a spectral druid, seen near the stones, guarding ancient rituals. The Neolithic site inspires tales of druidic spirits. Dúchas.ie mentions ghostly figures tied to Ballynoe’s prehistoric past. Ballynoe Stone Circle, near Downpatrick, County Down.
- Castlewellan Castle and the Phantom Coach: Castlewellan Castle is haunted by a ghostly horse-drawn coach, driven by a spectral figure, believed to be a cursed Annesley family member. The 19th-century castle was an Annesley stronghold. Dúchas.ie includes tales of phantom coaches linked to its aristocratic past. Castlewellan Castle, Castlewellan, County Down.
- Downpatrick Cathedral and the Spectral Monk: Downpatrick Cathedral is haunted by a spectral monk, seen near Saint Patrick’s grave, guarding sacred relics. The cathedral, tied to Saint Patrick’s 5th-century legacy, faced Viking raids. Dúchas.ie mentions ghostly monks linked to its early Christian history. Downpatrick Cathedral, Downpatrick, County Down.
- Dundrum Castle and the Warrior’s Ghost: Dundrum Castle is haunted by a spectral warrior, seen patrolling the ruins, believed to be a Norman knight killed in battle. Built in the 12th century, the castle saw medieval sieges. Local lore ties the ghost to its violent past, per Dúchas.ie. Dundrum Castle, Dundrum, County Down.
- Hillsborough Castle and the Ghostly Soldier: Hillsborough Castle is haunted by a spectral soldier, seen in the grounds, believed to be a casualty of 18th-century conflicts. The castle, a government residence, served military roles. Local lore ties the ghost to battles near Hillsborough, per oral tradition. Hillsborough Castle, Hillsborough, County Down.
- Killyleagh Castle and the Lady in White: Killyleagh Castle is haunted by a Lady in White, seen in the towers, believed to be a Hamilton family member mourning a lost love. The 17th-century castle was a Hamilton stronghold. Oral traditions link the ghost to romantic tragedies, per local accounts. Killyleagh Castle, Killyleagh, County Down.
- Newcastle Harbour and the Drowned Sailor: Newcastle Harbour is haunted by a drowned sailor, whose ghostly moans and wet footsteps are heard during storms. The coastal town faced frequent sea tragedies in the 19th century. Dúchas.ie includes tales of spectral sailors tied to Newcastle’s maritime history. Newcastle Harbour, Newcastle, County Down.
- Newtownards Priory and the Phantom Bell: Newtownards Priory is haunted by a phantom bell that tolls at midnight, rung by a ghostly monk lost in a storm. The 13th-century priory faced dissolution during the Reformation. Dúchas.ie notes spectral bells linked to lost souls in Newtownards’ history. Newtownards Priory, Newtownards, County Down.
- Portaferry and the Banshee’s Wail: Portaferry’s shores are haunted by a banshee, her cry foretelling death for local Gaelic families like the Savages. Banshees are female spirits tied to clans. Dúchas.ie records banshee cries along Strangford Lough, reflecting rural death omens. Portaferry, County Down.
- Saint Patrick’s Grave at Downpatrick: Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint, is buried in the grounds of Down Cathedral, marked by a stone inscribed with his name. Saint Patrick’s 5th-century missionary work is central to Irish Christian lore. Dúchas.ie notes the site’s reverence as a pilgrimage destination tied to his legacy. Down Cathedral, Downpatrick, County Down.
- The Banshee of Mourne Mountains: A banshee haunts the Mourne Mountains, her wail foretelling death for families like the Magennises, tied to the region’s Gaelic heritage. Banshees are female spirits linked to specific clans. Dúchas.ie includes accounts of banshee cries in the Mournes, reflecting rural omens of death. Mourne Mountains, near Newcastle, County Down.
- The Cursed Stone of Dundrum: A standing stone in Dundrum 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 Down’s rural areas. Dundrum, near Newcastle, County Down.
- The Fairy Fort of Annacloy: A ring fort in Annacloy is a fairy fort, home to the aos sí (fairy folk), who curse those who disturb it with illness or bad luck. Ring forts, Iron Age structures, are seen as Otherworld portals in Celtic folklore. Dúchas.ie records local fears in Annacloy of fairy retribution for trespassing. Annacloy, near Downpatrick, County Down.
- The Fairy Hawthorn of Killyleagh: A lone hawthorn tree in Killyleagh 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 Killyleagh avoiding such trees to prevent fairy retribution. Killyleagh, near Strangford Lough, County Down.
- The Fairy Music of Scrabo Hill: Scrabo Hill echoes 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 on Scrabo, enhancing its mystical reputation. Scrabo Hill, near Newtownards, County Down.
- The Mermaid of Strangford Lough: A mermaid haunts Strangford Lough, luring fishermen to their deaths with her song or warning them of storms. Mermaids in Irish folklore blend beauty and danger, tied to coastal communities. Dúchas.ie includes tales of mermaids in Strangford’s waters, linked to its maritime history. Strangford Lough, near Portaferry, County Down.
- The Phantom Coach of Castlewellan: A ghostly horse-drawn coach roams Castlewellan’s roads, driven by a spectral figure, believed to be a cursed noble from the Annesley family. Castlewellan’s history of landed estates fosters ghost stories. Dúchas.ie records accounts of phantom coaches tied to the area’s aristocratic past. Castlewellan, County Down.
- The Púca of Slieve Donard: Slieve Donard 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 rugged landscapes. Dúchas.ie mentions púca sightings on Slieve Donard’s slopes. Slieve Donard, near Newcastle, County Down.
- Tollymore Forest and the Hunter’s Ghost: Tollymore Forest is haunted by a spectral hunter, seen wandering the woods, believed to be a soul lost in a tragic accident. The forest, an 18th-century estate, has a history of hunting mishaps. Dúchas.ie records tales of ghostly figures tied to Tollymore’s eerie paths. Tollymore Forest Park, near Newcastle, County Down.
Haunted
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County Down:
Ireland’s county Down offers a mix of historic sites and scenic landscapes, with Downpatrick’s Saint Patrick Centre and cathedral providing insights into Ireland’s patron saint. The Mourne Mountains offer hiking trails with sweeping views, while Strangford Lough provides kayaking and wildlife spotting. Other attractions include the historic Tollymore Forest Park. Down is Ireland’s 12th largest county by size (2,447 square km) and fourth largest by population (553,261). Population peaked at 361,446 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 204,303, in 1911. In terms of hospitality, Down is Ireland’s 18th most visited tourist county with around 127,000 international visitors per year.
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