In the 1920s, a ghost hunter opened a once-locked room in Carrigaholt Castle. The next day he was found dead and people avoided the haunted castle at all costs because the haunting had started much earlier and would continue for a long time. Perhaps even to this day.
On the Loop Head Peninsula in County Clare lies Carrigaholt Castle, shrouded in centuries-old secrets and stories.
The history of Carrigaholt Castle begins in the tardy 15th century, when it was built by the McMahons, the last wartime Gaelic warlords of the Corcabascin Peninsula. Descendants of Mathgamain mac Cennétig, these chieftains built the castle as a mighty five-story tower, complete with a protective courtyard or wall.
Overlooking the River Shannon, the castle boasted murderous holes and a spiral staircase leading to a stone vaulted roof – an architectural marvel and testament to its strategic importance.
Some say that Carrigaholt Castle was built near an old sunken fortress, a relic of a time long gone, now hidden beneath the sands of time and the relentless tides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Blood stains on the castle walls
Carrigaholt Castle is a witness to a turbulent and bloody history and is a reflection of the turbulent times that hit Ireland. While Tudor armies waged war on Irish soil, the McMahons stood guard over their land. However, it was only with the arrival of the Spanish Armada in 1588 that the castle's history took a chilling turn.
Seven Armada ships sought refuge near Carrigaholt Castle, begging the McMahons for facilitate. Unfortunately, their request was met with betrayal. Legend has it that Teigue Caech McMahon, known as “the short-sighted”, lured the Armada crew to the castle, where they met a gruesome fate. Gold looted from the ships was used to make a sow and piglets, all made of gold, which Teigue buried in a lane hidden by the changing tides.
English armies then attacked Carrigaholt Castle, leading to McMahon's fall. Despite fierce resistance, the McMahons met a grim end – each of them was captured and hanged.
Haunted Abandonment: Sealed Room
Cromwell's forces were thwarted at Carrigaholt Castle, but his lord, Lord Clare of Carrigaholt, rose to fight William of Orange. Unfortunately, their defeat marked the end of an era. The estate was divided and sold, and finally passed into the hands of the Burtons in the 19th century.
There have been reports of hauntings since 1875, when people claimed to have seen the ghost of soldiers performing military exercises in the field.
Amidst the castle's turbulent history, an incredible legend began to circulate centering on a single room that, for unknown reasons, had been sealed for over a hundred years. Many thought it was about sealing something inside.
In the 1920s, an exorcist decided to confront the sinister entity in the room. He opened the chamber and descended into its depths. However, when the morning featherlight came, a terrifying sight awaited them – the exorcist was found dead, with his hands stretched towards the entrance, his face written with horror. It was almost as if he died of fear.
The chamber was immediately locked again and entry to the castle was forbidden, becoming a place of horror where no one dared to enter, let alone spend the night.
The chilling mystery of Carrigaholt Castle
The legends of Carrigaholt Castle continue to haunt the imaginations of those who dare to delve into its chilling history. With its obscure secrets and a sinister locked room that holds untold horrors, the castle remains an enigma on the rugged coast of County Clare. Tales of betrayal, war and restless spirits echo through time, captivating the curious and the brave.
Despite the passage of centuries, the castle is a testimony to the resilience and endurance of the human spirit. It serves as a reminder of the turbulent past that once plagued Ireland and the price paid by those who sought power and control. Blood stains on the walls and ghosts wandering the halls are grim reminders of battles fought and lives lost.
Long thought to harbor something sinister, the locked room still arouses fear and curiosity in equal measure. Its history remains shrouded in mystery, with rumors of old curses, vengeful spirits and unimaginable horrors. Many people wonder about the reasons for its sealing and the nature of the entity that claimed the life of the exorcist who dared to face it.
To this day, Carrigaholt Castle remains forbidden and off-limits to all who heed warnings about its haunted presence. It is a somber reminder of the slim veil that separates the world of the living from the world of the dead.
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Featured image: Geographer of Great Britain and Ireland
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