We have been so busy travelling and exploring over the past year, we have been a bit lax on posting our adventures! Where to start?
Kraków! An incredible city full of dark history, hauntings and legends. First up – the Wieliczka Salt Mines!
The incredible Wieliczka Salt Mines are full of incredible history, sights and of course, ghosts! There were definitely some strange vibes in certain parts of the mines and one shadow figure for sure. The rest cannot be quantified unfortunately due to sound carrying long distances throughout a cave network and other participants!
The mines have been operational since the 13th century and cover almost 180 miles of tunnels and chambers, all carved out of salt seams. We were incredibly captivated by this amazing location and look forward to visiting again.
The massive network includes Chapels, passages, caverns, lakes and an entire Church, carved only from salt. All the intricate statues and carvings were sculpted by the salt miners themselves. No wonder it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site! It is the tales of hauntings and other supernatural activity that really got our attention!
St. Kinga, Guardian of the Wieliczka Salt Mines
When Kinga was betrothed to a Polish Duke, part of her dowry was a salt mine. She had more wealth than she needed through marriage and wanted her people to have a legacy. She through her engagement ring into a deep mineshaft and then asked her miners to dig. She prayed to God that they would find an everlasting source of revenue for the community.
The miners hit solid rock and were demoralised. Kinga asked them to persevere and they hit a salt seam. They cut a salt rock out and broke it open -there was Kinga’s engagement ring. The mine prospered and the miners believed they were protected by Kinga who is their Patron Saint. Visitors feel a sense of calm in her Chapel which we also encountered. She has also been seen wandering the passages.
The Treasurer
While Ireland’s Leap Castle has the protective benevolent spirit known as The Elemental, the salt mines of Kraków have their own, known as The Treasurer. An ancient spirit guardian who warned miners of impending tragedy, fires, gas explosions and falling rock. If a miner (or visitor!) is disrespectful of the mine or his peers, then The Treasurer is angered and that person would be punished…
The Curse of the Underground Lake
As beautiful as it is, one particular waterway, deep beneath the mine surface is as deadly as it is enchanting. You can look all you want and admire the beautiful deep blue waters, but to touch and ripple the waters will bring bad luck and ill fate upon you. There are accounts of miners who did not heed the warnings and met tragic ends, remaining to warn others of the risk of disturbing the seemingly tranquil lake.
Shadows, Voices and Footsteps
Miners, staff and visitors have all reported knocks, disembodied voices and footsteps echoing through the passageways and caverns. As we mentioned before, these are difficult to quantify, but we did encounter strange localised sounds in the deeper parts of the mine right over our shoulders!
Shadow figure accounts are prominent and plentiful over centuries. They are thought to be the remaining spirits of miners who succumbed to the dangers of working in the salt mine. Ann was definitely aware of such a presence down one of the unused passages.
Although an historic heritage site, the Wieliczka Salt Mine remains a living entity of sorts – supernatural activity prevalent throughout the 1073 feet deep location. Whether it’s the flicker of lights, the cold drafts, shadow figures, or the feeling of being watched, the eerie atmosphere is undeniable.
The combination of historical depth, stunning salt sculptures, and ghostly tales makes the Wieliczka Salt Mine a must visit for history lovers and paranormal investigators alike.
On the corner of Fifth Avenue, across from Central Park, stands one of the most iconic hotels in New York history. A place Ann and Dominic chose to celebrate their NYC wedding along with fellow team members Eileen and Mike. What was not expected in the light of day, was paranormal activity to be joining in the celebrations!
It was designed by French Renaissance inspired architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, who also designed the nearby haunted Dakota building, site of the murder of John Lennon, who experienced the spirits of The Dakota first hand. Ironically, The Beatles spent six nights in The Plaza in 1964. The 1919 additions were added by the architects of the haunted Grand Central Terminal!
The whole area including Central Park, was full of bluffs and swampland, home to the Native American Tribe, The Lenape, until Dutch settlers took control. The first building on the site (after Irish pig farmers were removed) was the New York Skating Club. Just a few feet from The Plaza is The Pond, were the spirits of two sisters are seen skating.
So many famous and often, notorious guests have stayed here, that the reports of disembodied voices, doors opening and closing on their own and shadow figures being seen regularly come as no surprise!
Champagne Bar, The Plaza NYC (photo Ann McElroy)
This brings us to our wedding lunch in The Champagne Bar of the Plaza. It was quiet, being a Monday in January and we were seated, everything lovely and normal. A can of coke was brought to Mike and we watched, astonished, is it slid from one side of the table to the other and completely twisted around 360 degrees, before sliding across again! Straight away we went into debunk mode-paranormal investigators first, wedding party second! We checked the can for expansion, dents, condensation, nothing. We checked the level of the table, the floor, everything. Our waiter came over to check if everything was ok and we asked had he experienced any unusual activity. As he opened his mouth to answer, the can moved from one side of the table to the other again! Astounded, the waiter said no and gestured to his colleagues.
Eileen immediately reached out to see if it was family, but we did not get a definitive answer, just the can moving slowly one more time, as the energy dissipated, which we finally caught on video.
Introducing Ca’ Dario, the cursed gothic palace of Venice! Anyone who has stayed here for more than 20 days or owned it, has befallen the curse.
Murder, suicide, bankruptcy and misery, it was named ‘the house that kills’ by local fishermen who will not cast their nets within the shadow of the building or the spirits who remain.
Wealthy nobleman Giovanni Dario founded the house in 1479 and after he died, his daughter Marietta inherited the unlucky residence. Her husband was soon stabbed and died and inconsolable, Marietta drowned herself in the Grand Canal. Soon after, their son was murdered in Greece.
In the mid-nineteenth century, an English scientist took up residence. After just a few years, his work and lifestyle led him to bankruptcy. After his secret gay affair was revealed, it became too much and he and his partner died in the palace by murder-suicide. A similar fate awaited an American who subsequently fled, only for his lover to kill himself.
Too scared to reside in it, locals stayed away from Ca’Dario and it remained empty for fifty years or so. In the sixties, opera singer Mario del Monaco was preparing to purchase the canal side property, only to be in car crash on the way to sign the deeds, so he wisely pulled out!
The seventies saw the property occupied by the Count of Turin, who was slain by his lover Raul! Kit Lambert, who managed The Who, became Baron Lambert of Palazzo Dario, before becoming embroiled in the court system to avoid drug charges. This led to his earnings being taken from him and Kit spiralled into drink and drugs despair, dying after falling down the stairs! In a strange twist of fate, John Entwistle of The Who died of a cocaine induced heart attack, just one week after renting the palace…
A local businessman purchased the cursed home in the eighties with his sister. In a short time frame he lost all his wealth and his sister died in a car collision. Italian mogul Raul Gardini took over residency, before he too saw his empire crash and he committed suicide in 1993.
Were their hauntings driving the occupants of the palazzo to their doom? Kit Lambert thought so and started to sleep in a local hotel to escape the ghosts he believed surrounded him.
The curse may have begun beneath the foundations, as Ca’ Dario was built over a Templar Cemetery. It now stands empty, a must visit for paranormal enthusiasts and purveyors of dark tourism, however locals stay away, fearful of seeing the shadowy figures and hearing the mumblings within.
If you are brave enough, you can purchase the haunted palace of Venice yourself – if you have €20,000,000 to spare and believe you can escape the curse of Ca’ Dario…
As we explored St. Albans, the haunted Cathedral was very much on our visit list and we were not disappointed! Formerly a Norman abbey, it was a victim of Henry VIII and his dissolution decree, but obtained cathedral status in the late 1800s. It’s origins go back much further however, to a tale of persecution, execution and sainthood, leading to many sightings and reports of haunting right up to the present day.
It is a mix of original 8th century Norman foundations, with the addition of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, with an intense atmosphere we have not encountered in any other places of worship we have visited.
So Who Was Saint Alban?
Centuries before the construction of the abbey, a young man called Alban lived in the Roman town of Verulamium that St. Albans grew from. He befriended a priest who was fleeing a mob and gave sanctuary to the Christian teacher.
Word reached the Roman officials who sent soldiers to arrest the priest. Alban put on the priest’s clothing and passed himself off as the fugitive. He was presented to the judge while the lawman was practicing pagan rites at the altar of his gods. Interestingly, in the writings of Saint Bede, these are described as worshipping the “devils.”
The furious judge screamed that Alban was to be punished for not respecting the gods and in response the brave Christian replied “I worship the one true God who created all things.” These words are still repeated in the Catherdral today.
Incensed, the judge ordered Alban to be tortured and when that failed, he ordered the man to be beheaded. The execution procession reached the river and they could not cross. The townsfolk blocked the bridge so Alban prayed and the river dried up. His would be executioner fell to his knees and refused to condemn the Holy man, at the cost of his own life.
Once they reached a meadow of beauty, in contrast the two men were beheaded and the eyes of the executioner fell from their sockets so he could not gloat over his heinous act. The eyes rolled with the head of the would be Saint and where it rested, water sprang from the ground. Saint Albans’s Cathedral is said to be the site of the execution and the spring is now Holywell Hill.
The Ghosts of the Cathedral
During the war, places of note like St. Albans Cathedral would have a firewatch, a rota of locals would take turns to ensure that those seeking refuge within and the important historical artefacts were not fire damaged.
One poor young fellow was alone making his rounds when he glanced into the Mezzanine, only to see two robed figures staring back at him, right at the feet of the statue of St. Alban. Despite his nerves, he followed his duty to the letter and climbed the stairs to the organ loft to investigate. Of course when he got up there, no one was around!
Shaken, he descended the stairs, only to be drawn back to the sound of the organ playing. When the poor chap arrived back up, there was a lighted candle upon the organ and sheet music open as the keys of the organ were being pressed by an invisible force!
Already terrorised, the poor youth was astounded to glance into the Nave and see a procession of chanting monks walking in the aisle before disappearing into nothing.
There have been many instances of ghostly organ play reported, as well as monk sightings and apparitions disappearing through walls.
A Canon returned from a late night meeting and heard the organ being played, however the score was unfamiliar to him. He quizzed the organist the following day, who said he hadn’t been anywhere near the Cathedral. A few weeks later, some music sheets from the 1400s were uncovered that had belonged to the Master of the King’s Music. When the organist played it, the hairs on the back of the Canon’s neck stood up – it was the same music he heard played by the phantom organist!
Ghostly Roman soldiers has been sighted on more than one occasion marching on the grounds and the spirit of St. Alban himself dressed in white has been seen serenely inspecting his domain.
Blessed and Cursed – The Ancient Cedar Tree
St. Albans Cathedral has grounds that are both lawned and containing graves. One of the trees within was planted by an ancestor of Princess Diana and it has a legend attached. The cedar tree is over 200 years old and carries a legend, that if you walk around it 12 times clockwise, you will encounter true love.
If you make the mistake and go around anticlockwise however, you will come face to face with the devil.
A fascinating location, we were glad to have the opportunity to visit and explore. Definitely something ethereal there that requires more investigation!
In a field inundated with photographs, videos and recordings screaming out “supernatural,” it is important to remain focused and grounded to enable us to distinguish between pareidolia and a potentially paranormal anomaly.
So What Exactly Is Pareidolia?
It is a condition where the brain perceives patterns in imagery or sound where none exist. Visual pareidolia is where you would for example; see a face in a potato or a cloud, Jesus on a slice of toast or as supernatural images such as the Witch Stone at Blarney Castle.
Witch of Blarney (photo Blarney Castle)
Pareidolia has fascinated scientists for decades. Of course everyone is familiar with Hermann Rorscach’s inkblot test devised in the sixties, where a serious of random patterns were shown to a subject and they were asked to say the first thing that came in to their heads. The theory is that it would pull emotions from the subconscious and a psychiatrist could interpret the state of mind. Thankfully this theory is now widely disputed among academics.
Audio pareidolia is where a sound can be misconstrued, such as thinking messages can be heard in reversed musical recordings or mistaking a random sound as a voice, or white noise as a growl, as you would come across with EVP recordings.
How Does It Happen?
Essentially the frontal cortex of the brain sends signals to the posterior visual cortex. These signals literally augment any recognisable components reaching the brain and convert them into a familiar image such as a face.
It appears to be not a sign of an unbalanced mind, but a well wired brain, able to process random imagery rapidly.
Why Does It Happen And To Whom?
It used to be thought of as being unique to those with heightened religious beliefs or people like us, with an interest in the supernatural; however that is not really the case.
Studies have shown it occurs in those prone to being neurotic or with anxiety or negative personas. Again this is only a piece of a bigger jigsaw. The reason these demographics are more prone to pareidolia goes back to instinctive survival, fight or flight.
In these groups there is a more heightened sense of apprehension and expectancy, so the brain works faster to try and recognise a potential threat, pushing out images of danger that in reality are not there.
In The Paranormal Field
Because of the existence of this phenomenon, at Irish Paranormal Investigations we have a strict code of practice when it comes to evidence. With our own findings, we only use raw audio and image files when assessing data. There is nothing stand alone, evidence needs to be validated by location, time, environment and physical presence at some point in the location.
For the team to stand behind an EVP or photograph for example, there needs to be a general consensus and we would never ask a team member to stand by or speculate on a finding if they were not on site themselves as the margin for error is too great.
That said, opinions will always be forthcoming as we bounce theories around, This is how our research progresses and we will always welcome data for analysis. We cannot however, stand by and make a formal finding on third party evidence of any persuasion – that would be reckless.
Visual or audio pareidolia is most likely responsible for the vast majority of alleged paranormal ‘evidence.’ By ruling out as much pareidolia as we can with our code of practice, the small nuggets of unexplained findings are exciting and motivate us to research further into the paranormal field.
As well as our articles on locations and folklore, we will bring you ‘tech’ pieces to give a better understanding of the equipment and methods you see used. Let’s take a look at the mysterious sounding ‘EMF Meter.’
Anyone who has ever watched a Paranormal investigation on television or been on a investigation themselves has heard the term ‘EMF’ banded about. We use EMF meters and they look great and the K2 version will flash away but what does it all mean, and do they really work?
First, we need to understand what EMF actually means. It stands for ‘Electro-magnetic field.’ That’s basically energy created either magnetically or electronically. The Earth itself has its own field which is how compasses work and anything electronic has one also.
What makes up the field? Electrons are the simple answer. Their movement creates the field naturally and when it comes to electronics the drive of energy through a circuit and electrons via a conductor create a similar field.
EMF meters work by two basic methods, although in truth the actual measurements and readings are far more complex and scientific. EMFs are created by DC pulses radiating and in this instance the reader will work on density. They also work on AC currents which are measured over time and make up most man made electronic devices.
There is something vital any paranormal investigator needs to understand before undertaking any kind of paranormal investigation. Electro-magnetic fields and pulsating energy can physically and mentally cause the kind of damage that can appear as a paranormal experience.
Physical symptoms can be anything from fatigue, nausea, headaches and rashes to feeling like you’re having a seizure or chest tightness and pains. Mentally they can manifest from feelings of uneasiness to full blown hallucinations.
As you can imagine with the amount of electronic equipment we have in our homes and work places, it is very hard to distinguish between the effects of EMF and genuine paranormal experiences.
Our first job on an investigation is visual. To take in the amount of electronics around and relate that to where alleged paranormal occurrences take place. The other is to discuss with those affected any other ‘symptoms’ they may be experiencing, before any EMF measurements take place.
With regards to the type of meter that should be used, it should be noted that K2 meters are great for public investigations as they give a series of lights based on the strength of reading but they are, by and large, inaccurate. That is why for private investigations we use a trifield meter which gives a more accurate digital or analogue reading.
We can then take readings all over a location to establish a baseline for EMF and any fluctuations. Most households will have readings of less than 0.1 milliGauss and it is recommended not to be exposed to more than 2.5 mG. Astonishingly a simple thing like a microwave oven can expose you to up to 25 mG from a few feet away.
Only once we have baseline readings as a point of reference, can we consider using an EMF meter to register anomalies as part of an investigation. It is thought that any entity trying to manifest, whether visually, physically or audibly uses an immense amount of energy or EMF to be exact. It is therefore a possibility/theory that a high reading over any base readings once localised sources are discounted, are an indication of a potential paranormal event or anomaly.
Even so, any spike in readings is only an indication of potentially increased energy and a hint at the possibility of something paranormal. Therefore, an EMF reading on its own should NEVER be classed as independent proof of the paranormal. It is simply a question mark that requires further investigation.
Ann was chatting on Tipp FM radio this morning about haunted dolls! We covered everything from the current Stormy Daniels court case in the US to Annabelle.
Did you know that Chucky was based on a doll called Robert who is kept in Florida? He causes such fear that past presidents have written to the doll and those who photograph him without permission end up regretting it!
For those who don’t know the background to Annabelle, she is not as portrayed in the movies, but a Raggedy Ann doll, much less sinister looking, but looks can be deceiving.
Annabelle was bought for a nursing student called Donna by her mother. In 1970 while sharing an apartment, Donna and her roommate claim they were subjected to terror at the hands of the child’s plaything. Annabelle would move around, leave notes and be covered in blood, as well as a claim of attacking a boyfriend in the apartment.
A psychic told Donna the doll was possessed by the spirit of a dead child. She called in Ed and Lorraine Warren, who deemed Annabelle dangerous and locked her in a glass case in their museum with strict instructions not to open it.
Does it all sound a bit far-fetched? Well it shouldn’t. For thousands of years dolls have been created as talismans of protection against evil by everyone from the Egyptians and Native Americans to the Dutch arriving in the New World in the 1600s and settling in Manhattan.
The New York Dutch used their dolls to ward off local ghosts and spirits of the New World in a bid to keep their own ways. It is possible those indigenous to the area took offence and thus the beginning of dolls being thought of as evil began.
The Native Americans, along with many Asian cultures, have believed for centuries that the spirits of the deceased, particularly children, have had the power to possess a doll. Think about it – when we are children, we pour all our emotion and creative thought into those dolls and teddy bears we played with. Our hearts and souls.
Is it possible that some of that intense energy sometimes transfers, particularly on heirlooms and items of great personal value?
This could potentially be true of any dolls made from natural materials, acting as conduits and methods of spiritual imprint in much the same way we view stone tape theory. It is probably why you don’t get many haunted Barbie dolls! Of course there is also the possibility of the doll being a trigger object. The familiarity of the toy drawing in a spirit reaction and being of a size more easy to manipulate.
Of course we then move on to demon infestation. Is it likely or even possible? Well we know it has been thought that spirits can be “trapped” in objects, just look at the Dybbuk Box. In Jewish folklore, a Dybbuk is a disembodied spirit who has committed sins so heinous they are doomed to walk the earth, searching for a living host to contain their essence.
The Dybbuk box was used to imprison the evil spirit to prevent human possession. Could the same be said of dolls we wonder, either by a curse or indeed a demonic entity looking for a willing victim, hidden as a child’s plaything?
And speaking of curses, let’s not forget the power of the Voodoo Doll! Working much like an Irish Piseóg, the fear of the cursed object causes the receipient of the ill-will to do more damage to themselves that any real object power could do.
In Togo in West Africa, they have the world’s largest voodoo market called the Akodessawa Fetish Market, which specialises in haunted dolls and Voodoo dolls which have been cursed and imbibed with magic by tribal sorcerers and warlocks.
Have you had any experiences with a haunted doll? We would love for you to tell us about it!
Nestled in the picturesque and historically rich town of Lismore, County Waterford, the Lismore Heritage Centre may now serve as a hub for tourism, education, and community events, but its foundations are rooted in something much darker. This striking 19th-century building once operated as the town’s courthouse and jail. Its courtroom, judge’s chambers and holding cells are still very much intact, although repurposed. If the walls could talk, they’d surely echo with the cries of the accused, the stern pronouncements of justice, and perhaps even the last whispers of the condemned before they were taken to Gallows Hill.
Lismore itself is no stranger to turmoil and legacy. Established as a monastic site in the 7th century by Saint Carthage, the area later became a prized location during Viking invasions and fell under Norman, then British rule. Its past is layered with conquest, rebellion, and power struggles, with much of that weight seemingly to have settled within the walls of the Heritage Centre. This is a place where lives were changed, some ended and where the energy of those moments appears to remain.
Our team on the night (Ann, Dominic, Katie, and Mike), was the first paranormal group ever granted access to conduct an investigation inside the building. From the moment we walked through its doors, it was clear we weren’t alone. Reports from staff had long hinted at strange goings-on, from items being thrown and apparitions to disembodied voices and the persistent feeling of being watched. With renovations ongoing, which are known to stir up spiritual activity, it was the perfect time to make contact.
Prior to beginning the investigation, Ann conducted a sweep of the exterior, paying particular attention to the road and windows. We wanted to eliminate the possibility of external light or movement interfering with our equipment. Due to the gradient of the road and the building’s layout, only one room was vulnerable to reflection or interference, which was a promising start.
Start of first floor exploration
We began our night in the gift shop, which once housed the building’s holding cells. This space was especially active. Motion activated light balls and EMF devices began triggering without any visible cause. Ann’s phone recorder, sitting perfectly flat on the table, repeatedly paused itself during moments of high EMF activity, almost as if something…or someone…was interfering intentionally. There was an undeniably mischievous energy present, particularly fond of the women in the group. It felt as though the spirit or spirits wanted us to stay, maybe to talk, maybe to read. It was playful, cheeky, and engaging. The books that had reportedly flown from shelves in the past now seemed to serve as bait, an invitation to connect.
Intense session on first floor
On the first floor, we were looking to encounter one of the most consistently reported apparitions—a female figure seen walking down the staircase. Staff had often expressed unease in this area, especially when alone. Earlier, a local tradesman had been laying lino in the hallway when he abruptly abandoned the job, leaving tools scattered. Known to be level-headed and not easily spooked, he told staff he felt someone looming directly over him, watching intently and he fled in fear.
Stairs where an apparition of a woman was sighted
During our time on this floor, Mike and Dominic were discussing a box in the room when Mike casually said “yeah.” Almost instantly, the word was mimicked, as clear as day by a disembodied male voice right behind Dominic’s head. The moment was captured on EVP. Not long after, we heard solid, deliberate footsteps coming from above. Ann went upstairs to walk across the auditorium in an attempt to recreate the sound, matching footwear, speed and stride, but she couldn’t duplicate it. On her return, she clearly heard two men having a conversation in the corridor, yet no one was there.
Downstairs, the three Heritage team members who had joined us (Sheena, Doireann, and Vanessa) were in the kitchen when they heard a distinctive door open and close on its own. Meanwhile, Ann positioned herself in view of the team outside the room where the staircase figure had been seen, hoping to capture further visual evidence. That footage is still under review.
Our circle of chairs ready for first spirit box session
The auditorium, formerly the main courtroom, was our next key area. It didn’t disappoint. We formed a circle and opened a spirit box session. As the session began, the temperature in the room dropped significantly – up to 10 degrees below base readings during moments of clear interaction. Mike began to feel a tightness in his chest and a general feeling of being unwell, prompting him to take a break and step outside. There was an undeniable heaviness in the room.
When asked if any spirit present recognised someone, the response was clear – Vanessa. The divining rods also confirmed this, swinging deliberately toward her and the other two women. Vanessa has a deep-rooted connection to the building, having performed there as part of a local drama and dance group since the age of five. When Dominic introduced himself and asked for the spirit’s name, we heard what sounded like “Dom” or “Tom” through the spirit box. He then asked if the Judge was present and how they felt about him sitting in the chair of authority. The spirit responded again. When asked where we should go next, the divining rods pointed unambiguously to the Judge’s Room.
The former courtroom from the balcony
Before leaving, we addressed the curtain at the side of the auditorium, an area where a young girl had previously been seen. The rods pointed directly behind the curtain again, and Vanessa followed the call. As she approached, we received additional EMF responses and experienced another noticeable drop in temperature. There were no windows or drafts to account for the change. Vanessa reported a sudden pain in her jaw and a sensation like a lump in her throat. When asked if the girl had been hurt in this way, there was no reply. But when we asked if she was hugging Vanessa, the response was a clear and affectionate yes. We suspect this spirit may have formed a long-term attachment to Vanessa over the years of performances, one we will certainly explore further.
In the Judge’s Room, we were met with high levels of activity. EMFs, the spirit box, and motion light balls responded consistently to questions. From the nature of the responses, it seemed we may have been communicating with a prison guard or someone else in authority connected to the courthouse. Ann worked with the divining rods in this room, and once again they pointed directly at Vanessa when asked who the spirit recognised, before swinging back toward the door as if urging us to leave.
We continued to experience bursts of energy throughout the building. REM pods went off in the corridor, on the stairs and across the landing. One area staff had previously described as sinister was the upper balcony overlooking the courtroom. While we had heard distinct footsteps in this area earlier in the night, by the time we sat there beside the sound desk, the atmosphere had become strangely placid, almost as if the energy had shifted to observe us, or withdrawn after making contact.
We were instinctively drawn back to the stage for our final session of the evening, almost as if summoned by the spirits themselves to return to the heart of the building where justice was once served… and perhaps still is.
Activity begins
By the end of the night, both Katie and Ann were absolutely drained from working the rods and managing the high levels of activity. We’d heard whispering, what sounded like two men in conversation, and even witnessed reactions to laughter and positive energy. We tried reaching out to any older entities, perhaps connected to Lismore’s early Viking and monastic roots, but it seems their time to speak has not yet come.
Despite more than five hours of intensive investigation, there were still rooms we didn’t get to explore. That’s how active the building was. We were the first team through the doors and we firmly believe the spirits within were eager to make a connection. This is a building that holds its secrets well, but it’s willing to whisper them to those who are ready.
We cannot wait to return to Lismore Heritage Centre. Next time, we’ll bring more cameras and maybe even stay a little longer. Huge thanks to Sheena, Doireann, and Vanessa, whose open minds and steady nerves helped make this one of our most compelling nights yet.
When history refuses to stay silent, we’re here to listen.
Since the early ages, clothing has been an integral part of culture, heritage and life itself. We have been researching into the possibility of spiritual attachment and remaining energy in garments. Can clothing really be haunted?
Energy
We already know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed – it can only be converted.
Scientists began by proving that clothing could hold energy. Using water as a conductor, they took 50 wet clothing items and used them to store energy in a commercial super-capacitor, creating a charge of 10 volts. This is enough to sustain an LED light bulb for 1 hour.
Now universities across the world are creating fabrics that will generate their own energy.
Natural fabrics such as organic cotton resonate frequencies that can be measured in MegaHertz, with the highest being the natural fibres of wool and linen.
A human being is believed to have an aura, which in layman’s terms, is energy. So if you believe that buildings can hold energy or spirits, why not clothing?
Clothing, Traditions and Family Ties
Edwardian Wedding
What is one of the most heart-wrenching moments after a loved one has died? It’s the touch of their clothes, the embedded memories and the feeling that our loved one remains attached to it somehow. This is why feelings of guilt and overwhelming loss are heightened when it comes to ‘clearing out’ and moving on.
Wedding dresses and christening gowns, handed generation to generation, imbibed with family love and tradition. Positive energy, the feeling that those generations are with you on your special day.
For centuries, from the christening gown to national costume, the wedding dress to funeral shroud and clothing, clothes are steeped in a sense of self and connection to the past.
Do Clothes Retain a Person’s Energy?
Jimi Hendrix iconic jacket
Around fifteen years ago, a psychic was taken to a high end Vintage clothing store in New York. As he browsed the railings, he came upon a jacket that belonged to Jimi Hendrix. We know that there is a cult status around Hendrix and his death, so it would pay the psychic and shop owner to say there was something attached. We know how much celebrity clothing goes for! Only he didn’t. He believed it was ‘clean’ and that the guitar maestro had moved on.
Other items within the store were either ‘clean’ or giving off positive energy and vibes. In fact the only piece that had any kind of negative attachment was a sense of anger. That item turned out to be belonging to a designer who was stabbed to death. Although the psychic believed the anger was more directed to the state of the fashion industry and design than her actually murder!
The Museum of Style Icons and Princess Diana
Princess Diana – Revenge Dress and Engagement Blouse
We visited the Museum of Style Icons in County Kildare and paid particular attention to the Princess Diana Collection, which included her Revenge Dress, the India Dress, her Engagement blouse and the final Toile version of her wedding dress for fitting before the real thing was made.
The Revenge Dress was warn the same night Prince Charles had a very publicised televised interview regarding his infidelity. Instead of hiding, Princess Diana went out on the town in a sexy, show-stopping black dress.
The India Dress was worn to a State banquet, at the same period of time that infamous solitary figure photo in front of the Taj Mahal was taken.
For both of these items, Ann (empath) sensed not anger or betrayal, but a myriad of confused emotions, with the top layers being painstaking loneliness and bewilderment.
Princess Diana – The India Dress
In stark contrast, the Engagement blouse and wedding dress radiated a mix of positive energy, with heavy tones of trepidation and a hint of sadness.
On the other hand, items belonging to Marilyn Monroe seemed devoid of any kind of resonance, but in a negative way and Audrey Hepburn’s many items just seemed peacefully ‘clean.’
Should I buy Vintage or Second Hand and should I cleanse the item?
Cleansing
For the most part, unless you are a psychic, empath or sensitive, you won’t experience anything really, in the same way you enter an old castle or building without any bother.
Of course you can use your gut instinct and if you feel an unhappy, bothered or unsure, just leave it!
If on the other hand, you wish to ‘cleanse’ an item, there are a number of suggestions online that include:
Positive energy inducing crystals
Washing in Chamomile tea
Leaving in sunlight (not recommended for long due to fading!)
Waving a bundle of white sage in a smudging motion over the garment
Prayer or blessing
Sprinkling lavender and rosemary over the garment to ward off evil
Of course from our perspective, an item of clothing can no more impact you than a ‘haunted’ location. For the most part, spirits and energy of the negative persuasion will usually only seek you out if you invite them in.
Much of it is a state of mind, much like the Irish Piseóg, where the curse itself doesn’t do the damage, more the impact it has on fear and emotions within, like the farmer who destroys his cattle as he believes his neighbour has placed a harmful Piseóg upon his livelyhood that will bring disease to his herd.
If you have an item of clothing you feel is imbibed with a spirit or energy, do let us know!
It is said that the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary, is the place where the veil between worlds is at the thinnest in all of Ireland. Just a few miles away is Dundrum House, with a bloodied and chequered past, that remains very much in the present – the veil lifted and the ghostly remains of curses, insanity and haunting stepping firmly through.
Dundrum House and the Maude Family History
The area around Dundrum was owned by the O’Dwyers of Kilnamanagh. During Cromwellian occupation, Phillip O’Dwyer captured Cashel with his followers in 1641 which led to more retaliation across Munster. After a number of battles Phillip O’Dwyer of Dundrum was sentenced to death. He cheated the gallows however, by dying before he could be executed. His lands were taken from his kin and given to the Maude family.
When you are visiting a castle that is said to have its own Púca haunting the place, who better to have along than an actual Púca?!
Photo by Ann Massey – John Ambrose Martin of Púca Paranormal
John Ambrose Martin of Púca Paranormal was our knowledgeable guide, as IPI got to explore Lackeen Castle, hidden away in the rural splendour of County Tipperary. Situated on farmland, cows meander the green fields, oblivious to the historic monument beside them, rich in folklore and tales of haunting.
Photo by Ann Massey
Home to the O’Kennedy clan, as with many fortresses, there was most likely a 12th century tower in situ before the laying of foundations for a 16th century stronghold. It is that Castle of the 1500s that we stood within.
Photo by Ann Massey
It is eerily similar in structure and design to Redwood Castle, where we were going to be spending the night. While Redwood Castle is going through longstanding restoration, Lackeen has sadly succumbed to time and the harsh reality of nature.
Photo by Ann Massey
The imposing tower was still and silent once inside. Incredible when one realises that when stood outside the sounds of birds, tractors and a nearby road were clearly audible. The aura was one of watchfulness, perhaps a guardian ensuring the O’Kennedy stronghold was respected. Or was it something else?
Photo by Ann Massey – Dominic McElroy IPI
For legend has it that a Púca lies within the tower house, whether waiting patiently for revenge or feeling a tie to its former prison, no one can tell.
Photo by Ann Massey – Katie Donegan IPI
A Púca is of the Unseelie court, fairy folk who have the potential to be malevolent. It has the ability to shape shift, often into a horse, hare or goat. They are extremely mischievous and can be a waking nightmare for those who encounter them.
Photo by Ann Massey
One of the O’Kennedy clan came upon a few hags who were grave robbing, needing corpse parts to complete their spells. Hags are more than meets the eye. Practitioners of Witchcraft, they often held positions of power and used it for evil purposes, the Devil their only master.
Photo by Ann Massey – Dominic McElroy and Michael Donegan IPI
Such was the darkness of their deeds, they were protected by a Púca. O’Kennedy was stronger however, and managed to capture the fairy creature, halting the hags and thwarting their heinous crime.
Photo by Ann Massey
The servants of O’Kennedy were terrified to have such a dark creature under their roof and begged their Master to release the unholy beast. He did so, but only after the Púca swore to bring no harm to the clan or servants of Lackeen Castle.
Photo by Ann Massey
In the castle you can clearly see the remains of a murder hole, an imposing fireplace and many other exciting remnants of the past. We even came across the name “Dom” scratched into the stone, which we assure you was not carried out by our own Dominic! Our many thanks to John Ambrose Martin for showing us around this incredible location!
IRISH PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIONS 