True Irish Ghost Stories

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

True Irish Ghost Stories

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

A compact anthology of first-hand Irish supernatural accounts preserved from local oral tradition. This collection features haunted houses, banshees, poltergeists, and ancestral apparitions, offering a genuine glimpse into the folklore and fears of Ireland.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1914, *True Irish Ghost Stories* by St. John D. Seymour and Harry L. Neligan addresses a significant gap in Irish literature by compiling a diverse anthology of supernatural experiences gathered directly from the public. Recognizing an abundance of folklore but a lack of specific ghost stories, Seymour solicited tales from newspapers and correspondents across Ireland, resulting in a collection of first-hand and second-hand accounts from sober-minded individuals. The book is structured into chapters covering haunted houses in Dublin and other counties, poltergeists, haunted places, apparitions after death, banshees, and legendary ghosts. The text presents vivid narratives of spectral figures in domestic settings, such as a quiet haunting in a Dublin kitchen involving a spectral charwoman, and terrifying encounters in railway engine houses where men witnessed heavy-footed figures and unearthly yells. Other accounts detail mysterious sightings of dogs and sailors in specific locations, including a heroic retriever dog that drowned saving its master and whose ghost reportedly still haunts the grounds of a castle near Rathfarnham. The authors acknowledge that while some phenomena may stem from hallucinations or telepathy, the stories are presented as truthful accounts, challenging materialistic views. Seymour and Neligan argue that the publication of these stories does not imply the Irish nation is enslaved in superstition but rather reflects a higher level of spiritual inquiry compared to many Continental nations. They contend that the materialist age is waning and that humanity is returning to a more balanced spiritual perspective. The book serves both as entertainment and a stimulus for thought regarding the unseen world, suggesting that the study of psychic phenomena can broaden human knowledge and lead to a finer conception of God and His Creation. By presenting evidence from real names and addresses, the authors invite readers to suspend judgment and explore the profound mysteries of the human mind and the nature of the soul.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/st-john-d-seymour_harry-l-neligan_true-irish-ghost-stories.epub

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Categories

• Folklore
• Horror