Stay at a Haunted Place

Just around the corner from my home office there is a medieval castle. Renovated and done up quite a bit, you can actually rent a room and stay overnight. Situated romantically on the banks of Lough Sheelin it sounds like a good idea for a romantic getaway.

The locals will smile knowingly at this point ... Ross Castle is not only old, it is also haunted. And it certainly has a romantic past, but "getaway" is an unfortunate choice of words here. Ever since Sabrina Nugent wanted to elope and her lover drowned in Lough Sheelin. Sabrina is reputed to have been buried standing up, looking out over the Lough, forever awaiting her lover. Not only around Hallowe'en ghostly goings-on have plagued the estate. Or helped its reputation - Ross Castle is actually being marketed as a haunted hostelry!

Not the only one in Ireland, I hasten to add. Deceased actor Oliver Reed and executed Rebel Robert Emmet are amongst the more notable persons haunting pubs in Cork and Dublin. And countless "grey shapes" hover in the older bars and hotels. So why not plan a stay at one of the top ten haunted hotels and pubs in Ireland?