The Paranormal Database

Murderer's Footprints

Location: Newmarket - Glash/Glenamuckla
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Evidence still present?
Further Comments: In the middle of a field, fenced off, can be found two ancient footprints. These are where a reluctant murderer stood and fired a gun at his victim. Village elders say that when it is dewy, more of the murderer's tracks can be seen.

Breaking Glass

Location: Newmarket - James O'Keeffe Memorial Centre
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1980s
Further Comments: The centre was once a convent but was converted to office space once the nuns moved away. One room was said to be haunted by the ghost of a nun who leapt to her death from the window. During the renovation work, builders found the window in this room smashed; they replaced it, but within 24 hours the glass had broken again. A local priest was called to bless the area, after which the glass pane remained intact.

Pale Woman

Location: Newmarket - Unidentified fort
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Said to be quite beautiful, this pallid female form would spend hours combing her hair. Unfortunately for any witnesses, she would only appear shortly before a death; two boys were said to have spotted her during the nineteenth century, one of whom died soon after the encounter.

U-28 Monster

Location: Off Coast - Iberian Wreck
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 30 July 1915
Further Comments: U-boat commander Freiherr George G von Forstner claimed to have encountered a giant 'crocodile-like' creature as the U-28 torpedoed the British steamer Iberian. As the Iberian sank, a huge explosion occurred from under the sea. Moments later, the monster appeared, blown out of the water before travelling back down and sinking beneath the sea.

Rostron's Monster

Location: Off coast of Cork - Sea
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 26 April 1907
Further Comments: Sir Arthur Rostron, while the Chief Officer of the Campania, sketched a long necked sea monster off the coast of Cork. Rostron later became the Captain of the Carpathia, involved in rescuing Titanic survivors.

White Woman

Location: Passage West - Road towards Cork, and other roads through village
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Early twentieth century?
Further Comments: Not much is known about the phantom woman who was said to haunt the road to Cork. A phantom coach and horses haunted other roads in the area, the noise of its passing causing household furnishings to shake.

Serpent

Location: Pillmore - Barrel Rocks (off coast)
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Circa 1850
Further Comments: While likely fictitious, one story written by Roger W Travers and published in the Cork Constitution claimed that he and four others had encountered a large serpent with no visible appendages. The creature's eyes were about nine inches (23 centimetres) across, while a grooved shell-like substance covered the upper part of its back. The men shot at the creature, which promptly swam off.

Just a Rumour?

Location: Rochestown - Monfieldstown House
Type: Other
Date / Time: 1990s
Further Comments: Nicknamed 'the haunted house' by locals, Monfieldstown House may have acquired the reputation after a disastrous wedding event that occurred there.

Sally Leeson

Location: Roughgrove - Road between Roughgrove and Coppeen
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1800s onwards?
Further Comments: Murdered at Roughgrove, Leeson took to haunting this stretch of road, although it was said she could not cross the bridge.

Thundering Hooves

Location: Rusheen - Field in village
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: August 2017
Further Comments: Three witnesses standing outside watching the lunar eclipse heard horses loudly galloping across the field ahead of them, although the field was empty. One of the witnesses kept horses of their own and was familiar with the sound.

Three Dogs

Location: Rusheen - Point to point race track (no longer present)
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The night before one particular race, three phantom hounds were spotted bounding across the track. Witnesses declared this to be an ill omen, and the following day three horses fell and died during the race. The accident also killed a jockey, while two other men also died, caught up in a ruckus which broke out on the side-line.

Dragging

Location: Skibbereen - Eldon Hotel
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: Circa 2015
Further Comments: The spirit of a woman who burnt to death in a fire in Room 28 (or 29) reputedly haunts this site. Cork Supernatural Society, while visiting the site, witnessed a wardrobe door opening with considerable force, and heard loud banging and dragging noises in the corridor.

Voices

Location: Skibbereen - Russagh Mill Hostel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twenty-first century
Further Comments: Paranormal events reported by visiting ghost hunting teams include bedclothes being tugged during the night, bolted doors opening unaided, and disembodied voices.

Enchanted Island

Location: St Finian's Bay (aka St Finan's Bay) - Off coast
Type: Environmental Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The bay is another place where an enchanted island has made an occasional appearance before vanishing.

Figure

Location: Timoleague - Timoleague Abbey
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2015
Further Comments: The Cork Supernatural Society featured in the local press after capturing an image that showed a figure standing by a gravestone. The group were adamant they were alone at the time.

Henry Bennett

Location: Wallstown - Road near Wallstown Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Several years following 1642
Further Comments: Henry Bennett was killed during the siege of the castle, which resulted in the structure being burnt down. For several years following his death, Bennett would be seen dressed in Cavalier uniform and holding a pole which he used to block travellers from using the road. If asked to move the pole, he would do so.

The former site of Fishamble Lane, Youghal.

Seaman

Location: Youghal - Fishamble (or Fish Shamble) Lane, no longer present
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A phantom shuffling seaman would be seen moving along this lane, mumbling 'goodnight' to all those he walked past. There have been no reported sightings since the lane and surrounding buildings were converted into a car park.

The lighthouse in Youghal.

Monk

Location: Youghal - Lighthouse
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The lighthouse keeper reported hearing someone moving around the building, even though he was the only person who worked there. During this time, he also spotted a phantom monk who vanished into thin air. The same apparition is reported to walk around outside the lighthouse, and it has been reported local nuns would hand out sweets to children in return for not telling their parents they had seen the ghost.

Moll Goggin's Corner in Youghal.

Moll

Location: Youghal - Moll Goggin's Corner
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Moll fell in love with a sailor and was heartbroken when he failed to return from sea. She stood looking out over the water each day on the corner which now bears her name. A slightly more sinister version of the story says Moll was a witch who would cast spells to drown sailors for fun. Either way, her phantom is said to return to the spot.

Fata Morgana

Location: Youghal - Off coast
Type: Other
Date / Time: June 1801
Further Comments: In New Lands, Charles Fort wrote that a mirage of an unknown city could be observed, with 'representation of mansions, surrounded by shrubbery and white palings - forests behind'.

Monk in Black

Location: Youghal - Private house along Main Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: A benevolent ghost, the entity which haunts this building has tried to be helpful, in one case laying a dress out on a bed for a visitor!

Jephson's Rat

Location: Youghal - The old Desmond Castle (north of town)
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: Sixteenth century
Further Comments: Sir John Jephson, on the verge on bankruptcy, struck a deal with a stranger for all debts to be paid. In return, Jephson had to adopt a white rat and ensure the creature sat alongside him during every meal. Believing the creature would soon die, Jephson agreed. Seven years later, the creature still lived, so Jephson had his staff remove the rat. Within a few hours, the stranger returned and threw Jephson from an upstairs window. The white rat is said to occasionally appear to foreshadow a death in the Jephson family.

Crying

Location: Youghal - The Priory
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2008
Further Comments: This building was said to be home to several spooky events, including a baby crying, matching footsteps passing through an empty part of the building, and a vanishing monk.

Nun

Location: Youghal - The Red House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Folklore says that this property is haunted by the friendly and calming ghost of a nun who is said to rearrange visitors' clothing.

A street running through Youghal.

Roundheads

Location: Youghal - Unnamed street in the area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: These Roundhead troops are reputed to haunt Youghal, occasionally being heard walking along the roads.