Famous Irish Ghost Stories

Ireland is famous for its many many ghost stories. We are pleased to add this new page to colours-of-the-rainbow.com in the hopes that it will both entertain and amuse you. Perhaps you know a famous Irish Ghost story that we don't! Please feel free to send it to us via our contact form and we will be happy to add it, giving you full credit of course. Cheers!

Lord Tyrone and Lady Beresford

The first Ghost story that we are happy to present is perhaps one of Ireland's most famous. Lord Tyrone was born John Le Poer and Lady Beresford Nichola Sophia Hamilton. The two were orphans reared by an unbelieving (atheist) guardian who constantly tried to convert them to his atheist views. Because of this the two made a vow to each other that whoever died first would reappear to the other in order to prove that there was life after death.

In the course of time Nichola married Sir Tristam Bereford , the eldest son of Richard, Earl ofTyrone, and of Lady Dorothy Annesley, daughter of Arthur, Earl ofAnglesey. One night she awoke terrified to see her foster-brother standing next to her bed. He told her to be quiet, and said he had just died, consequently reminding her of the vow they had made years ago. He advised her of some future events, one which was the coming death of her husband and subsequent remarrying. he told her she would have four children and that following the birth of her last, she too would die on the day she turned forty seven.

Lady Beresford sought confirmation that her brother's appearance was real and not a dream. At this Lord Tyrone grabbed her by the wrist, and it immediately shrank and withered. This deformity remained with her for the rest of her life, covered by a black silk ribbon she wore to conceal it.

Lord Tyrone's predictions all came to pass with the exception of her death at forty seven. On her forty eigth birthday, Lady Beresford decided to celebrate with a few friends, including a clergyman who was an old family friend.

"I am 48 today" she exclaimed. To her dismay the clergyman replied, "No my dear, you are only 47."

Lady Beresford was shaken. "Are you sure?" she asked.

The clergyman assured her he was as he had been looking at the register only days before.

"Then you have signed my death warrant!" she cried. She retired to her room, made out her will and died later that night.

Irish Ghost Stories - Marshal Browne

In a place called Clongowes Wood, which is near Clane in County Kildare, there lived a family by the name of Eustace. The Eustace family forfeited Clongowes Wood because of their involvement in the insurrection of 1641, after which it passed into the hands of a Richard Reynel, who consequently sold it to the Browne family. One of the Browne men became a Marshal in the Austrian army, and during his time of service, the house was occupied by his two sisters.

The sisters regularly engaged in needlework during the afternoons, and one day whilst working away in a room off the main hall, they were amazed to see their brother walk in in his full military uniform. He clasped his hands over his heart, and the sisters were shocked to see red stains on his tunic in that area. He led them upstairs, and uponfollowing him, they watched him disappear on reaching one of the bathrooms.

The sisters, convinced that their beloved brother had been mortally wounded in battle, immediately went into mourning and had Masses offered for the salvation of his soul. A body-less wake was attended by local gentry who, as no suprise, thought it was a bit strange. However, the sister's worst thoughts were confirmed when an official letter arrived at the house informing the ladies of their brother's death in battle.

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