Leap Castle Is Said To Be The Most Haunted Castle In The World, And It Was Built In 1250
Leap Castle is said to be the most haunted castle in the world. This castle is located near the town of Roscrea, Ireland, and was built during the thirteenth century in 1250. It has been standing for over 700 years, and in all that time, it’s seen some pretty horrifying murders and bloody deaths.
The castle’s ownership changed hands several times. It first belonged to the O’Bannon clan. In the late fifteenth century, the castle came under the rule of the O’Carroll family. During their reign, they were forced to defend the castle from those who attempted to seize it, resulting in many brutal deaths.
By the middle of the seventeenth century, in the year 1649, the castle was passed to the Darby family by marriage.
Throughout the years, the castle has witnessed its fair share of violence. Here are some of the most notable murders that took place within its walls.
The most gruesome of them all occurred in the chapel on the grounds of Leap Castle, and it’s now referred to as “The Bloody Chapel.” The murder was committed in 1532 during the rule of the O’Carrolls.
The clan’s leader, Mulrooney O’Carroll, had died that year, and there was a lot of disagreement over who would take his place.
Thaddeus O’Carroll, the priest of the family, was next in line. However, he never had a chance to step up.
The belief is that one of his younger brothers stabbed Thaddeus in the back while he was performing Mass in the chapel, where he bled to death at the altar.
Now, the chapel is a shell of the structure it once was, but people have reported that the priest’s ghost still haunts it.
tamas – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
There have also been many sightings of light streaming from the chapel’s window at nightfall, even though the castle had no electricity.
Thaddeus is far from being the only ghost in the castle. In 1922, a workman stumbled across a dungeon hidden behind a wall of The Bloody Chapel.
On the floor of the dungeon, there was a deep hole in the ground filled with human remains. The bodies had been impaled on long, wooden spikes jutting from the bottom of the pit. Over 150 human remains were found.
Ghosts have also been spotted in the castle’s Main Hall, most frequently the spirits of Emily and Charlotte.
Emily was an 11-year-old girl who died after falling from the castle’s battlements. Another young girl, Charlotte, is usually seen walking with a limp.
Alongside the girls is a woman who is assumed to be their governess. On occasion, an old man has been spotted sitting in an armchair in front of the Main Hall’s grand fireplace.
Additionally, there is The Red Lady, and her story has a tragic ending. She usually roams the castle’s nursery and wears a long, red dress.
Her figure is tall and lean, and she has flowing brown hair. She always carries a dagger with her hand raised as if she’s ready to strike someone.
According to legend, she was captured by the O’Carroll clan and became pregnant. After she delivered the baby, the O’Carrolls killed the baby with a dagger.
The woman then grabbed the blade and took her own life. Another account states that she tried to escape the O’Carrolls but was chased down and stabbed to death.
The last paranormal entity we’ll mention is The Elemental. The Elemental isn’t human. Instead, it’s a dark, powerful presence that can destroy the castle from within. It doesn’t make itself known unless it’s called upon.
Mildred Darby, who lived in the castle until 1922, often practiced black magic. It is widely believed that this was the reason The Elemental was awakened. In 1909, she told a magazine in an interview about her horrific encounter with the spirit.
One day, she was in the Gallery when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Upon turning around, she was faced with a creature that was the size of a sheep and had a gaunt, inhuman face with eyes that were dark holes. She was also struck with the smell of decomposing bodies.
Today, the Leap Castle belongs to musician Sean Ryan and his wife, Anne. The couple purchased the castle in 1991 and had it rebuilt. The Ryans have claimed to see many spirits throughout their residence in the castle. Visitors are allowed inside daily except for Sundays.
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