The Paranormal Database

A strange looking black goat.

Black Goat

Location: Ballyvaughan - Poulaphuca, area around dolmen
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This goat, though by some to be a fairy being, resides over the tombs in the area. The creature causes anyone who threatens the land to develop a hunchback.

Banshee

Location: Bunratty - Rathlaheen Cottage, near Bunratty Castle
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: 1956
Further Comments: The wails of the banshee were heard within this building just before a death occurred.

Lord Clare and Troops

Location: Carrigaholt - Fields near Carrigaholt Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: The phantoms of Lord Clare and his yellow dragoons were said to have continued their manoeuvres well after their deaths.

Lucky

Location: Carrigaholt - Rahona Lodge
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa 1917
Further Comments: This ghost was described as 'lucky' by former owner Charlotte Kean, as it could spend as much time as it liked at her family's summer home.

Robin

Location: Carrigaholt - Road between Carrigaholt and Ross (R487?)
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The phantom hound which haunts the road connecting these two locations was thought to be the ghost of Robin of Ross in animal form.

Maire Rua

Location: Clarecastle - Carnelly House driveway
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Marie was a tough woman who, during her lifetime, received a pardon for two counts of murder. Legend says she was buried in a hollow tree, and as a result her ghost haunts the driveway.

Mrs Stamer

Location: Clarecastle - Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The wife of the first Colonel George Stamer of Carnelly was said to have accidently dropped her child into the nearby river. Her phantom was said to walk along the banks, looking for the infant.

An old postcard showing the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare.

Missing City

Location: Cliffs of Moher - Sea off the coast
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: One story says that a great city was lost off the coast here, and manifests once every seven years. When seen from the coast, a person had to keep their eyes fixed on the city until they reached it, otherwise it would vanish.

Puca

Location: Clonlara - Bridge (may no longer be standing), two miles south west of village
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Late nineteenth century
Further Comments: A dark shadow-like horse was named by some to be a puca, although it would appear no one stayed around long enough to find out for sure.

The ghost was soon banished.

Banished Woman

Location: Clonlara - Canal bridge
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1769
Further Comments: A female ghost appeared and haunted the area around the canal bridge as it was being constructed in the 1760s. The entity was banished by the laying of a slab with her likeness upon it.

Coach and Horse

Location: Corofin - Area around Cragmoher
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Nineteenth century?
Further Comments: A phantom horse and coach were said to have been encountered in this area, although the finer details are unknown.

A banshee breaking the norm.

Warning the Inmates

Location: Corofin - Crossroads near the former workhouse
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: Late nineteenth century
Further Comments: Considered strange behaviour for banshees, these Corofin entities would appear close to the workhouse and foretell the death of inmates.

Brocshee

Location: Corofin - Rath Lake
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 1931
Further Comments: Several local farmers reported seeing a giant badger swimming in this lake, and the story made the front page of the local newspaper.

Portent of Doom

Location: Cratloe - Woodland
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: To be followed or escorted by this black hound would result in misfortune soon after the encounter.

Vault Dwellers

Location: Doonmore - Doonmore Castle (ruins by the coast)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The vault beneath this castle was said to be home to the most awful sounds, either caused by the souls of former prisoners or the waves crashing against the rocks.

Donn of the Sandhills

Location: Dough - Close to the site of the old castle
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Donn was said to be one of the most powerful fairy kings, but he was forgotten about as he lacked a bard to sing his praises.

Man with Dog

Location: Drumcliff - Around the ruins of the round tower
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: It was said that this phantom man with his ghostly hound would walk quickly around the area.

Black Dog

Location: Drumcliff (aka Drumcliffe) - Exact location not known
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Once thought to haunt this area, the phantom black hound would appear to be mostly forgotten about.

Old Lady

Location: Ennis - Ballyalla House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Seen standing on the staircase, this little elderly lady sometimes makes an appearance when visitors arrive.

Procession of Monks

Location: Ennis - Park near Clare Abbey
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: Thought to be heading towards the abbey, a line of phantom monks would walk slowly through the park.

An illustration of ghostly looking men holding long candles.

Corpse Candles

Location: Ennis - Ruins of Killone Abbey Convent
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown, likely to be nineteenth century
Further Comments: Lights which darted around the headstones were once said to haunt these ruins.

Child

Location: Ennistymon - Private cottage, south side of town
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2003
Further Comments: A visitor to the cottage fell ill at ease and became convinced that it was haunted, something to do with the death of a child. Another visitor to the cottage experienced nothing in the building but felt that the town had 'the guts and heart knocked out of it.' Later research revealed that several children had been murdered close to the cottage by Crown Auxiliaries during the War of Independence.

Black Hound

Location: Ennistymon (aka Ennistimon) - Ennistymon House (now Falls Hotel)
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The grounds around this house were said to be home to a black dog, which despite its size, was quite harmless.

Coach

Location: Ennistymon (aka Ennistimon) - Wooded glen near stream/waterfall
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: 11 December 1876
Further Comments: A servant of the MacNamaras family heard a phantom coach while walking through this area. He ran, opening gates to let the invisible vehicle through, and it drove past him on the third gate. The family later learned that Admiral Sir Burton MacNamara had died in London.

Singing

Location: Inchiquin - Cahernanoorane (fort)
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: Fairy song was said to have been heard coming from this fort.