It's fast approaching Halloween, a time when folklore and truth become inseperable and we feel compelled to visit places with a chilling story behind their walls or which give us that spine-tingling sense that we're not alone...
Read on to discover some of Mid & East Antrim's more haunting spots, and for a link to some Halloween events in the borough...
Dundermot Mound - Glarryford
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Photo credit: Barry Thompson (Facebook: @bazthedj)
Our first spooky story takes us to Glarryford where you’ll find Dundermot Mound, one of Ireland’s two gateways to hell…
Should you visit when the mound opens, you and anyone else in the surrounding area will be sucked into it and never seen again - as it’s thought that the mound releases the forces of hell upon opening.
Legend has it, in 1798, a mail coach was driving past the mound with a delivery worth a lot of money. The coachman, Thomas Meharg, hit a ferocious storm as he travelled north. Despite warnings from people in the villages he passed through, including the fact that the Glarryford Bridge had been damaged, he continued on his journey
The coach was last seen leaving Cullybackey where Meharg asked, “Is the bridge at Glarryford down?”, a question that is now thought to be asked by his ghost to travellers in the area. It is thought that Dundermot Mound opened and sucked in Thomas, his coach, and the horses - none of which were ever seen again.
Should a traveler encounter Meharg’s ghost and answer his question, it’s believed that they will die within a year.
If you’re looking for a different, less spooky explanation, it has been said that the Dundermot Mound could be an old fort, and that the gateway to hell legend was created to keep people away!
The Ghost of Buttoncap - Carrickfergus Castle
There’s always something a bit scary about old castles, and Carrickfergus Castle is no different. Known as one of Northern Ireland’s most haunted castles, there’s more than one spook that’s thought to roam the castle, but the most famous ghostly inhabitant is Buttoncap.
Buttoncap is believed to be the ghost of a soldier, which makes sense when you consider the castle’s fascinating military past and its position as a stronghold. Both employees at the castle, and tourists visiting the attraction, have claimed to have seen Buttoncap, and he makes quite frequent appearances around the castle.
However, his favourite haunt is by an old well, which is informally (and somewhat affectionately) now known as Buttoncap’s Well.
Elizabeth - Dobbins Inn
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Photo credit: @socialstephen (Instagram)
Also located in Carrickfergus, the 500-year old Dobbins Inn is another must-visit for those seeking spookiness in Mid & East Antrim.
The inn is perfectly welcoming and a lovely option for those visiting the area these days, but it has a dark and violent past, specifically linked to the murder of 21-year old Elizabeth committed here in the early 1700s.
Elizabeth was married to the owner of the inn, but began an affair with a soldier stationed at Carrickfergus Castle. A concealed tunnel ran between the inn and the castle, and this is where they would meet in the dead of night.
When her husband realised that she was being unfaithful, he brutally killed Elizabeth with a sword and then set out to find the soldier via the secret tunnel. Upon finding the soldier, who was anxiously waiting for Elizabeth, the innkeeper murdered him too.
Following their deaths, Elizabeth has been unable to rest and still haunts the inn to this day. It’s said that she’s been seen in the reception area and bar, moving towards the fireplace where the tunnel is believed to have started. Guests have awoken in the night to find Elizabeth standing over them and stroking their faces, and Room 21 is thought to be a favourite spot - which matches the age she was when she died.
Doctor Colville - Galgorm Castle
Photo Credit: @riofoster_photography (Instagram)
The second castle on our list of haunted places in Mid and East Antrim, Galgorm Castle is a fascinating building dating back to 1618. Built by Jacobite Sir Faithful Fortescue, the castle encountered its first drama when locals, who hated Sir Faithful, attacked the building and burned down the chapel located in the grounds.
Around 300-years ago, the castle was bought by Doctor Colville. The locals believed he practiced black magic as that was the only explanation for him being able to afford the property.
Legend has it that the doctor was obsessed with money and met the devil at the River Maine where he sold his soul for enough money to fill a boot in his attic. Doctor Colville was sneaky, and cut a hole in the floorboards beneath the boot, and in the boot’s sole, before nailing it to the floor.
The demons tried to fill the boot with a single bag of gold, but the gold kept falling through the holes which meant that the demons had to keep returning.
Since Colville’s death, it’s believed that his soul will walk the buildings of the castle for eternity as a punishment from the devil, alongside the servants that still serve him to this day, and doom will befall any person who removes his portrait from the castle.
Lady Isabella Shaw - Ballygally Castle Hotel
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Photo Credit: Ballygally Castle Hotel
Boasting unrivalled views across the Irish Sea and original features, the 17th-century Ballygally Castle Hotel is a popular place to stay, but also comes with its own share of ghost stories.
Perhaps the most famous of the castle’s ghosts is Lady Isabella Shaw. After giving birth to a baby girl, Lady Isabella fell out with her husband which led him to locking her in a small room at the top of a turret.
She couldn’t cope with the starvation and the sound of her baby crying, so she tried to escape through a window. Sadly, her plan didn’t work and she fell to her death on the rocks below. It’s said that Lady Isabella can be heard walking through the hotel corridors at night, knocking on doors as she searches for her baby.
Madame Nixon, a former resident of the castle in the 19th-century, is also believed to walk around at night - with people saying that they’ve heard her skirts rustling as she does so.
Ballyboley Forest
Just a few miles outside Larne, you’ll find a place shrouded in mystery and whispered tales—the notorious Ballyboley Forest. As the sun dips below the horizon, casting long shadows among the ancient trees, an eerie atmosphere descends, and the forest seems to awaken with spectral energy.
Local lore weaves a tapestry of chilling tales about Ballyboley Forest. It is said that the spirits of long-departed souls wander among the trees, their whispers carried on the wind. Some claim to have heard footsteps, echoing through the undergrowth, while others have reported glimpses of ghostly apparitions among the gnarled roots and moss-covered forest floor.
Ballyboley Forest's haunted reputation is intertwined with its history. Dating back centuries, this woodland has witnessed an array of events. From ancient Celtic rituals to more recent tales of lost souls, the forest's past is a labyrinth of secrets
Those brave enough to venture into Ballyboley Forest have reported a range of spine-chilling experiences. Phantom lights that dance between the trees, disembodied whispers that seem to emanate from nowhere, and a palpable sense of being watched are just a few of the encounters that have been shared over the years.
Local historians, paranormal enthusiasts, and curious visitors have all sought to uncover the truth behind Ballyboley Forest's haunting reputation. Some believe it is a convergence of natural energies, while others hold fast to the belief that the forest is a bridge to the world beyond.
Be sure to check out some of the seasonal events taking place across Mid & East Antrim this Halloween - click here.
We hope that these ghost stories have inspired you to take your own spooky tour of Mid & East Antrim - just don’t forget your torch…
