Killakee Dower House in Dublin, located at the foot of a hill that was known for its dim masses and hauntings, was long affected by this. After the infamous Hellfire Club began holding meetings there, dim and mysterious things began to happen.
The origins of Killakee House date back to the overdue 18th century, when the prominent Connolly family built it as a hunting lodge. The Connolly's family, known for their association with Castletown House in Co. Kildare, created this charming cottage on the estate that was later called Killakee. The great house was demolished in 1941, but Dower House still stands.
The house itself is a two-story building, built along the Military Road, overlooking the surrounding area. It has played many roles over the years, from acting as a dower to housing the estate manager.
Sinister Origins: The Hellfire Club
The area around Killakee House is shrouded in dim history, especially due to the presence of the infamous Hellfire Club. In the mid-18th century, Richard Parsons founded a sinister chapter of the Hellfire Club, an English-based secret society known for its debauched and often disturbing gatherings.
First the club rented another hunting lodge at the top of the hill, but soon they also found themselves at Dower House.
Here, among the ruins of the Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill, members took part in activities that included devil worship, ritual animal sacrifice, and even witch burnings. One macabre account tells of the ritual killing of a black cat, which was doused with whiskey and set on fire. This eerie connection to the supernatural later returned to haunt the Killakee Dower house.
After the hunting lodge where they originally held their meetings was destroyed by fire, they began holding their meetings at the Killakee Dower House. After the site was abandoned, the Dower House had a bad reputation and was believed to be haunted.
The arrival of Margaret and Nicholas O'Brien
In 1968, Margaret and Nicholas O'Brien breathed recent life into the dilapidated Dower House with the dream of turning it into an arts center. Little did they know that their restoration efforts would awaken something otherworldly.
Workers began reporting strange occurrences while working at the Killakee Dower House. Terrifying sounds filled the air and strange occurrences became commonplace. But the most disturbing phenomenon was the appearance of a gigantic black cat with piercing red eyes.
The Haunting of the Black Cat
The most eminent apparition associated with Killakee Dower House is undoubtedly the ghostly black cat. In front of several people, including artist Tom McAssey, this mysterious cat was no ordinary pet. Described as being as gigantic as a Dalmatian, it exuded a sinister appearance.
One night, Tom McAssey came face to face with a specter outside the front door, believing it to be a prank by one of the employees. However, he quickly realized that the figure was not human, and the menacing growl was followed by a snarling black cat with incredibly red eyes. The dim figure growled, “You can't see me. You don't even know who I am.” This terrifying encounter sent McAssey and other employees running away in sheer terror.
A séance at Dower House
Beyond the ghostly cat, Killakee Dower House held deeper secrets. In October 1969, a group of actors decided to organize a séance at home, unknowingly awakening supernatural energy within it. The disturbances resumed with renewed intensity.
The following year, an astonishing discovery was made under the kitchen floor: the skeleton of a deformed dwarf, or perhaps a child, accompanied by a brass figurine of a demon. Who this person was, no one knows, but rumor had it that he was one of the human sacrifices from the time when the house was used by the Hellfire Club. The presence of this incredible artifact along with its skeletal remains has further fueled the belief that sinister forces have left their mark on Killakee House.
The power of exorcism at Killakee Dower House
In an attempt to quell the disturbing events, Margaret O'Brien enlisted the lend a hand of a priest to perform an exorcism at the Killakee Dower house. Although this initial ritual provided some respite, the disturbances returned when the séance was performed.
Ultimately, the hauntings stopped only after the dwarf skeleton and the demonic figurine were properly buried. This marked the end of a chapter of terror in the history of Killakee House.
In the 1990s, the Killakee Dower House served as a restaurant, but closed in 2001. Today it is merely a private residence, and perhaps also devoid of its dim past and lingering ghosts.
Reference:
Banshees, Bones and Haunted Stones: Haunted Ireland by JennyPop
Killakee House, Dublin, Ireland
Scary Irish Castles and Houses Halloween Irish Culture and Customs
High history is made | factsheet.ie
Image Source: Pixabay.com
