Leap Castle in Offaly bills itself as the world’s most haunted castle due to a history that reads like a storyline from the Game of Thrones. Many have lost their lives here over the centuries, most notably the tormented souls said to have betrayed the original owners. You might spot The Red Lady, who has been seen carrying a dagger through the corridors, and two young girls, Emily and Charlotte, who play in the hallways and sometimes plummet from the battlements in a grisly replay of Emily’s sudden demise at the age of 11.

Brave guests can hunt for ghosts in The Bloody Chapel and the Murder Hole Room, and listen to owner Sean Ryan’s own chilling accounts of ghostly encounters, from hearing chanting in the walls to objects being moved in front of his eyes. Visitors can contact Leap Castle owner Sean Ryan to request a tour, with specific tours running throughout October.

Head to West Cork and take on the the White Lady of Kinsale. She is said to stalk the battlements of Charles Fort where her father, commander Colonel Warrender, killed her husband on their wedding night. Witnesses have since spotted the ghostly woman in a wedding dress wreaking havoc around the fortress. Soldiers have seen her walking through walls, while parents stationed at the fort have witnessed her watching their children as they slept. Perhaps the most chilling account is that of a medical officer in 1922 who was dragged from his room and thrown down a flight of stairs by a robed young woman. So, watch where you wander.

Tickets to Charles Fort are available online and upon arrival, with multiple language guides on offer. If you decide to bring the kids along, there's also a monsters and poltergeist trail for children.

Photo credit: @myviewofireland

Those ghostly apparitions and whispers in your ear may not be a figment of your imagination – the eerie ruins of the Duckett’s Grove estate in Carlow has been visited by many paranormal investigators over the years. Some even claim to have photographic evidence of the ghost of William Duckett himself, who owned the gothic pile in 1830, while others swear they heard an organ playing as well as a phantom horse and carriage pulling up outside this once great house. But even more notorious is the Duckett Grove banshee, who can be heard shrieking through the ruins, along with the voices of former servants in the kitchens. 

Much of the ruined house is impassable, but the historic walled gardens are still open to the public Friday to Sunday, with audio guides available for thrill-seekers looking to brave the grounds alone and free guided tours in case you need a friendly face along the way. If you need a warm drink to calm your nerves, stop by the café on-site after your trip around the gardens. 

Legend, and a whole lot of scared visitors, say the 14th-century tower house of restored Belvelly Castle is home to some downright creepy goings-on. Its roll call of residents include the ghost of a Spanish minstrel thought to have been shipwrecked off the Irish coast and the faceless ghost of 17th-century aristocrat Lady Margaret Hardnett, who was known for her beauty and her capricious nature. Legend tells that when she refused the affections of suitor Clon Rockenby, he starved the family until Margaret lost her mind and her looks, and smashed every mirror in the castle. Her ghost is said to haunt the medieval tower looking for glimpses of herself in mirrors.

Set on the windswept Hook Peninsula in Wexford, Loftus Hall is considered to be the most haunted house in the country. The story goes that in the 1760s, a stranger came knocking one stormy night. Owners Charles Tottenham and his wife Anne invited the man inside and apparently, while playing cards, she bent down to retrieve a fallen card and discovered her guest had the cloven hooves of the Devil himself. Upon hearing her screams, the stranger bolted through the roof in a ball of flames. Lady Anne never recovered and is said to haunt the house to this day.

“There isn’t a day at Loftus Hall that I don’t feel that there is something or someone there with me,” says former owner Aidan Quigley, who has since sold the property to buyers at Oakmount, who are converting the currently-closed property into a luxury hotel.

Photo credit: @irelandsancienteast

During the day, this pretty spot on top of Montpellier Hill in the Dublin Mountains is dotted with hikers and families enjoying picnics on the lawn, but it’s the last place you want to be when the sun goes down. Rumour has it that the ruined hunting lodge comes to life with the ghosts of its residents who were said to have dabbled in black magic and hedonistic behaviour. It is said that these ‘hellfire’ members invited the devil in to play cards one night. When they discovered his identity, he set the club alight, leaving it in the ruined state it is in today. Devilish happenings have been rife since, as spooked visitors have reported bad smelling odours, hearing voices and feeling the icy grip of a hand around their necks.

Go for a hike on one of the Dublin Mountains walking trails and keep an eye out for the Hellfire Club ruins as you go, keeping a safe distance just to be safe. 

Now known as Europe’s largest unoccupied prison, Kilmainham Gaol once hosted some of the country’s most notorious criminals in Irish history, and although it closed in 1924, some believe the gaol is still home to a supernatural presence. There’s more than a few spectral inhabitants fond of turning on and off the chapel lights and slamming cell doors shut. Wander the wings and learn how many Irish revolutionaries spent their last few days. Stand in their execution sites, visit their cells and see the location of the public hangings that took place at the gaol’s entrance.

The gaol offers 90-minute guided tours every day (pre-booking is required). Adults: €8, kids €4.

Once derelict and decaying, Offaly's Charleville Castle has been rescued from ruin by volunteers of the Charleville Castle community. They’ll guide you through the once great house and regale you with its chilling past, from stories of the Knights of Templar to that of a little girl called Harriet – the daughter of the third Earl of Charleville, who fell to her death while playing on the stairs in 1861. It’s alleged she now haunts the castle screaming, laughing and singing in the dead of night. Even if you don’t spot Harriet, it’s worth stopping by to see the oldest oak tree in Ireland, located in the estate’s ancient oak woods.

Although the castle is currently closed for restoration, visitors can still explore the estate’s forest and grounds.

Now ruins standing on the grounds of the Ballyheigue Castle Golf Course in Kerry, Ballyheigue Castle was once a grand 18th-century mansion until it burned down in 1921. It is said that the remains are now home to a local ghost, most notably spotted in 1962 by Captain O’Donnell. While exploring the ruins, O’Donnell took some photos that revealed a ghostly figure holding a sword in one of the castle windows. Further investigation uncovered the castle's ties to several tragic tales, from stories of a shipwreck to a raid to find hidden treasure which took the life of a soldier – the stuff of classic ghost stories.

Visitors looking to experience the castle up close can admire it while playing a round at the Ballyheigue Castle Golf Course.