Supernatural Ireland
Mummie Dearest! Check out what’s behind these doors at St. Michan’s in Dublin, Ireland
Wanna experience incarceration in Ireland? Check out Kilmainham Gaol.
When we think of the Emerald Isle, it’s easy to conjure an image of rolling green countryside. On St. Patrick’s Day, we profess our love of being Irish, even if we don’t have a drop of Irish blood in our veins!
If you are a traveller who enjoys obscure things to see and do, check out this list we’ve made that’s to die for. That’s because there’s some really creepy things over in eerie Éire.
St. Michan’s Mummies (Dublin)
With almost 4,000 churches dotting the landscape, you might think St Michan’s is just another church. Think again! This almost thousand year old edifice is home to a vault where dozens of coffins lay, and one of the mummified corpses has their hand out ready to greet you. The Irish have always been so welcome to visitors!
Dunmore Cave (County Kilkenny)
The entrance to these caves is every shade of green, and underground are cool geological formations to behold. What makes this location a bit macabre is that it’s an alleged location of a Viking massacre that claimed a thousand souls. While it’s hard to confirm what may have happened back then, especially the exact death count, researchers have found remains that back up the claim of a bloodbath.
National Leprechaun Museum (Dublin)
So you may be thinking: how are leprechauns spooky? Perhaps you didn’t grow up with the 1993 horror movie Leprechaun like I did. That little dude was vengeful! Anyhow, if you’d like to find out more about these imphamous Irish creatures, head on down to Twilft House in Dublin, a stone’s throw away from the famous Ha’penny Bridge. It is here you will find the National Leprechaun Museum. There’s over a thousand years of leprechaun history showcased to visitors, from their first sighting in the eighth century to Walt Disney’s inspired visit to Ireland in 1959. Also, good to know this place is suitable for the whole family, unlike that sinister little devil of a leprechaun from the movies.
Kilmainham Gaol (Dublin)
You know a jail is old when they use the old-timey spelling of Gaol… and this one has enough history to haunt the bejesus out of you. They locked everyone up here, men, women, and even the youngsters. The Kilmainham Gaol was erected in 1787 on top of the gallows, and that’s where public hangings had been happening for ages. The correctional facility eventually shut its doors in 1924, but it’s now open to the public. Visitors can learn more about the political and penal history of the prison, and there is an exhibit dedicated to the topic of Irish Nationalism.
Murdering Lane & Cutthroat Lane (Dublin)
Tell your taxi driver to drop you off at the corner of Murdering Lane and Cutthroat Lane. That should get you a curious look. That could be because your driver would need to find a 18th century map of Dublin’s streets to see these names in use. Street names can change over the years, and the area is now known as Brookfield Road. Take note, that back in the heyday, this killer destination even had a Cutthroat Lane East and Cutthroat Lane West. Watch your back if you dare to go here. Meanwhile, the other street was colloquially known as Murd’ring Lane, because when you have so many murders to do, why not drop a few letters for efficiency. Time can be precious, but eventually time was up for this lane name in 1876 when it was officially changed by Dublin city council.
St. Patrick’s Purgatory (County Donegal)
If you’ve ever been told to go straight to hell, and I mean haven’t we all, take a look at St. Patrick’s Purgatory the next time you're in County Donegal. Specifically head on over to a lake known as Lough Derg, and find the small island in the middle of the lake. That’s where there is said to be a gateway to hell. But before you start applying SPF to your skin, there’a monastery built on top of the gateway to H-E-double hockey sticks.
Irish greenery meets Irish weather.
The word on the street is that back in the day, Jesus showed St Patrick a pit on the island, which was where hellish punishments would come from. The monastery came later, in the fifteenth century.
Let’s Plan a Trip to Ireland
There’s so much to see and do in Ireland, and with more flights this summer linking travellers with the Emerald Isle, what are you waiting for? If it’s because you need a travel agent who can plan out all the details, including small group tours, bus tours, independent self drive journeys, and more to make your perfect Ireland holiday come true, look no further. I’m waiting for you! Click on the button below to get in touch and let’s get craicing* on your Irish adventure.
*craic is an Irish slang for enjoyable conversation, gossip and fun.
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