Exterior of Dublin overlooking the Irish sea, a white woman is claimed to be haunting the premise. Seen arising from the seaside and wandering on the citadel grounds, the ghost that is named the Woman of the Stairs is simply one of many ghosts stated to linger at Ardgillan Citadel.
Excessive above the crashing waves of the Irish Sea, the place the inexperienced hills of Balbriggan roll towards the cliffs, stands Ardgillan Citadel round 20 miles from Dublin. It’s not the citadel itself that attracts whispers of the supernatural, however the lonely bridge often known as The Woman’s Stairs, the place a sorrowful determine is claimed to look on misty nights.
Learn Extra: Try all ghost tales from Eire
In-built 1738 by Reverend Robert Taylor, Ardgillan Citadel has lengthy stood as one in all North Dublin’s most hanging estates and it remained within the household till 1962. The grounds stretch towards the ocean, with manicured gardens giving approach to rugged cliffs and the countless horizon past. However even in such magnificence, tragedy has left its mark. When the railway got here, so did the personal stairs right down to their personal seaside within the nineteenth century on the finish of the property overlooking the Irish sea. The steps have been named The Woman’s Stairs, and it comes with a haunted story.
Legend of The Woman of the Stairs
Probably the most well-known ghost stated to hang-out Ardgillan is that of the Woman of the Stairs. There are notably two legends stated to be the origin of the ghosts. In line with the primary model, the Woman of the Stairs was the devoted spouse of a nobleman who liked to swim each day within the chilly, unpredictable waters beneath the property. Every day, the Woman of the citadel would stroll to the arched footbridge overlooking the ocean, recognized ever since as The Woman’s Stairs, to observe for his secure return.
One fateful night, because the tide swelled and the skies turned darkish, her husband didn’t come again. He was claimed by the cruel sea, leaving Woman Langford damaged with grief. She returned to the bridge many times, hoping in useless to see him emerge from the waves. Her vigil ended solely when she too handed away, though her ghostly presence continues to be watching out for her lengthy misplaced husband.
The Ghost of Woman Langford
Some nonetheless, say that the ghost is definitely Louisa Augusta Connolly, Baroness of Langford haunting the Woman’s Stairs. Lord Langford of Summerhill Home in Co Meath had simply married her and introduced her to the citadel as he went searching in Scotland as she was a buddy of the Taylors.
Woman Langford misplaced her life in a drowning accident on the 4th of November in 1853 on their personal seaside. She was often known as a robust swimmer, nevertheless it was November, and the wind and waves received stronger and he or she was pulled out to sea. A number of individuals noticed her lifeless physique floating within the water, however the waves had been too sturdy to swim in opposition to.
A ship had been launched from Balbriggan, believed to be manned by Mr McGregor. and at 1.40pm, the boat introduced her ashore. The lifeless physique of Woman Langford was carried up the steep cliffside and throughout the bridge and on into the citadel. Though the servants tried to deliver her again to life by putting her in a scorching bathtub, it was to no avail. She was solely 31 years outdated when she died.
The Ghost of the Woman’s Stairs
For generations, individuals strolling close to the cliffs after nightfall have claimed to see a determine wearing white standing silently on the bridge, her gaze fastened on the stressed waters beneath. Locals name her The Woman of Ardgillan or the Woman of the Stairs.
Some say she seems solely at twilight, her type faint and shimmering like sea mist. Others insist they’ve heard smooth sobs carried on the wind or seen her vanish when approached. The air grows chilly round The Woman’s Stairs, and those that linger too lengthy typically describe an awesome sense of sorrow, as if the grief of centuries nonetheless lingers there. It is usually stated that if an individual goes to the top of the bridge at midnight on Halloween, she is going to seem and throw them to their demise within the ocean.
The Haunting of Uncle Ned
The Woman of the Stairs just isn’t the one one stated to be haunting Ardgillan Citadel although, and the ghost of the Reverend, now referred to as Uncle Ned is claimed to wander the chilly corridors of the citadel, nonetheless on the lookout for his bible he misplaced.
It’s believed to be the ghost of Reverend Edward Taylor. He moved to the citadel together with his spouse in 1807. The story goes that he was sitting within the nook of the eating room on the seventh of June, 1852, studying his Bible. All of the sudden, he died after a coronary heart assault and the Bible fell out of his arms and to the ground.
Exterior there are 21 yew bushes that had been planted for his birthday, and employees have typically claimed to have seen Uncle Ned strolling on the yew stroll. He’s additionally stated to be the one opening a specific door that opens by its personal within the night time.
After the demise of her husband, Mrs Taylor dismissed the employees and moved to Meath. She left a gardener with the important thing. A while after, though not specified, the 2 sons of the gardener had been engaged on the terrace the place a passageway results in the cellars by a glass door. As they had been working, they heard footsteps approaching the door inside the citadel. And though they seemed in all places, they discovered no intruders, and the entire doorways had been locked.
The gardener additionally had some expertise with the paranormal exercise of the citadel, as he just a few years earlier than had seen a girl in a white costume, standing behind the glass cellar door. However when he moved to open the door for her, she vanished. When he talked with Mrs Taylor about it, she stated she had been visited by the spirit of her son and talked with him, 4 nights after his demise.
The Citadel Banshee
Not solely has it been stated that ghosts hang-out the halls of the citadel, there are additionally employees that swear they’ve met the traditional banshee entity Eire is stuffed with. Tom Reilly, in keeping with the Irish Unbiaseds says that one of many rangers swears he met the banshee as soon as as he was making his rounds. This exercise is claimed to have occurred within the surrounding forest space, and Banshees are Celtic harbingers of demise. She requested him for his comb and he by no means noticed it once more.
No matter actually occurred, the ranger was apparently adamant that it actually did occur, though it hasn’t been reported to have occurred ever once more. There have been investigators that declare to have proof of a Banshee presence by screaming into an app and getting one thing screaming again. Make of that what you’ll.
There are additionally some reported actions, though a bit extra obscure in nature, within the outdated kitchens within the basement and the servants quarters within the east and west wings. In line with Tom Riley, the native historian and supervisor of the citadel, the demise of Edward Richard Taylor’s demise in addition to a maid who allegedly died throughout childbirth within the citadel, deaths which have helped gasoline the haunted tales as effectively.
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References:
Ghosts of Ardgillan | Irish Unbiased
The story of The White Woman of Ardgillan Citadel | Skerries Historic Society
And now they are saying her ghost walks the steps at Ardgillan Citadel… | Irish Unbiased
