sean ryan musician leap castle
A little surprised, I turned and took a picture of the smaller doorway leading out of the room, when I noticed a small blue light on my camera’s viewfinder, the moment I took the pic. This place was beautiful and magical. Voices coming from the next room, which seem to move away on investigation, he said “you cannot get to it”, doors opening and closing, which “are not our doors”, footsteps and apparitions, as clear as a living person, seen on many occasions. For most I think the experience would be unnerving, but Sean told me they leave each other in peace. Plus special offers and exclusive content just for our freaky friends like you. . (To my disappointment it did not appear on any of the photos I’ve taken.). Short vid of Sean Ryan of Leap Castle fame showing his skills on the tin whistle. It was one of the Darbys, Mildred, who is believed to have brought the most infamous and evil spirit to Leap Castle. Leap Castle is located in County Offaly, Ireland, just outside of Coolderry and is privately owned by musician Sean Ryan and his wife, Anne. He spoke much of the history of Leap Castle and even played his flute prior to us leaving. youtube.com. The owner, Sean Ryan, is restoring the castle himself so that makes it more personalized to visit. Leap Castle. The world’s most haunted Castle. Drawing the bolt back the door creakily opened on to the church floor. 23 November 2015 - 3 mins. I was told that if I sent Sean an email with the date that I would be in Ireland near his home, he might let me tour the castle. Teatime Treats: Part 3 Night of Music & Dance from Leap Castle with Ciara & Sean. Heading down the narrow passageway sans camera, I found a nest of juvenile rooks and when attempting to take a photo of them, found my cell phone camera unwilling to cooperate. After equipping me with a flashlight, instructions on where to find light switches and a request to close doors upstairs, he left me to explore the castle unaccompanied. Another cozy nook–and also a great example of how thick the castle walls are. This is not a place for those afraid of spiders. When querying Sean later about all of the above, he said “it happens all the time”. Mizen Head Signal Station & Visitor Centre – County Cork. Since 1991, the castle has been privately owned by musician Seán Ryan, who is continuing the restoration work.” (Wikipedia) The Castle is also said to be home of an Oubliette. Visiting Leap Castle is not the typical castle visit as this is a privately owned residence. Today Leap is the private residence of Sean Ryan. It is said that the riches remain undiscovered to this day. Aiming my camera at a window, I was surprised to find after numerous attempts, I failed to capture a clear shot, my camera instead capturing blurry, out of focus, images, which is unusual, as it’s set to automatically find and focus on subjects and has always been very good at doing so. Another view of Leap Castle. As a result, about a month later, he responded and said yes! Sean responded immediately to my email/text inquiries and once we made it to Leap Castle (the key turn is the R421 corner Brereton's & the white church), it was fun and stories. The present owner a noted musician skilled in the playing of the tin whistle is Sean Ryan. Curiously we had visited Leap once before just before Sean Ryan bought it and it was still quite ruinous. Leap was burnt out and destroyed in 1922 by the IRA while the Darbys were living in England. Tag Archives: Sean Ryan Leap Castle. Vanta M. Black sits at cusp of the oubliette at Leap Castle. In 1991, musician Sean Ryan and his wife Anne purchased Leap Castle and resumed its restoration, which is still ongoing. 2,399 were here. This place is the inspiration for her book, Oubliette–A Forgotten Little Place. The façade of Leap Castle. The remains took 3 cart loads to remove them all. There is certainly an air of mystique there, even though we did not see or hear anything extraordinary. Leap Castle – This private castle is located in Coolderry about 9 kilometers north of the city of Roscrea in County Offlay just off the R421 road. During the 18th century Jonathan’s great grandson, also named Jonathan Darby, had the castle remodelled to give it a Gothic appearance. 55. View over a very decrepit portion of Leap Castle from a window in the Bloody Chapel. Let’s Begin the Photo Tour of Leap Castle Synonymous with the experience of sleep paralysis, the legend of the Old Hag has roots in several European, Have you ever become aware that you were dreaming? You’re riding through a meadow on the back of a dinosaur while your third, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window). Fortress, home and tomb. It is open to visitors for a small fee but I'd recommend phoning to check in advance. Leap Castle, Co. Offaly… There’s lots of debate as to the most haunted building in Ireland, but this petrifying pile always features in the final mix. Entering the haunted chapel of Leap Castle. Sean invites you in to sit by the fire and then you wander around the castle on your own. He is a musician and has taken up the task of restoring it. The current owners, musician Seán Ryan and his wife Anne bought Leap Castle in 1991 and are … Prisoners, or unfortunate “guests” of the O’Carrolls would have been dropped down through the hidden trap door above the oubliette, before being punctured by the wooden spikes below. Required fields are marked *. He describes the regular visions as people with a haze around them. What is it like to live in such a haunted home? She is credited with unleashing an Elemental spirit into the castle, a type of primitive ghost that attaches itself to a particular place. The crumbling structure is in various states of repair, and we saw many sides to this magnificent structure. This painting depicts Sean Ryan and his whistle, along with the magic of Leap Castle around him. That restoration work continues to this day. I was pleasantly surprised from the moment I was greeted at the door by its current owner, Sean Ryan, who graciously shared with me some of the history of the castle, his efforts in sympathetically restoring it and of course his experiences with the spirits that is said to haunt the ancient building. It was built in the 1500's and is currently owned (2019) and being restored by Séan Ryan, a traditional musician. I had read a lot of the history of the castle beforehand but experiencing it firsthand was very interesting. Today, the Ryan family live peacefully alongside their ghostly neighbours. He bought the castle in 1991 and to this day has renovated the South wing and the ground and first upper floor of the tower. Where most would refer to these apparitions as ghosts, Sean prefers to call them spirits. Throughout its history, it has seen fratricidal warring, murders, massacres, and disappearances. Ivy hugs the ruins and turns this desolated side into something green and alive. Following the death of the chieftain Mulrooney O’Carroll in 1532 a bitter dispute arose between his sons over the leadership of the clan. October 14, 2019 by carolinefarrell/author and screenwriter. Close up of the walls in the Bloody Chapel at Leap Castle. One of the gruesome murders to take place in the castle occurred in 1532 in this room. This is not a red deer, though. FOR TOUR INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Ryan Phone: +353868690547 Email: seanfryan@outlook.com For most I think the experience would be unnerving, but Sean told me they leave each other in peace. Leap Castle outside Roscrea in Tipperary lies close to Seir Kieran in Offaly. So I fired off the email, expressing my desire to visit his home. ‘One-eyed Teige O’Carroll’ who as mass was being celebrated in the room, stormed in chanting holy rites, before driving a sword into the back of the priest, who was also his older brother, Thaddeus. They almost went extinct at the turn of the century. 2 Shares. . Leap Castle: Sean Ryan Leap Castle. (And really, is there such a thing as a castle that’s not haunted?). Your email address will not be published. The McMahon men attended a feast at the castle in celebration of a victory over a rival clan of the O’Carrolls. The ghosts of the unfortunate McMahon clan are said to haunt Leap Castle to this day. His renovation efforts were tragically cut short when he died in 1989. A pocket watch from the mid 1800’s revealed how recent the oubliette may have claimed some of its victims. That’s a pretty big claim, as there are a lot of castles in Ireland and most of them are haunted. The priest’s spirit is said to have haunted the Bloody Chapel since. Television’s ‘Most Haunted’ team from the U.K. and ‘Ghost Adventures’ and ‘Ghosthunters’ from the U.S. have held investigations in the Castle. The team from Project Dreamscape inside the Bloody Chapel which houses the oubliette at Leap Castle. Day of the Dead or Día de Muertos Do you love this holiday or what? It was briefly occupied by a friend of the Darby family, before being left to lay dormant until it was purchased in the 70s by an Australian historian, Peter Bartlett, who was actually an ancestor of the founders of Leap Castle, the O’Bannons. The step ladder actually leads to a platform, and just beyond it, the pit drops off. Check it out below. ghosts inspiration for oubliette Ireland Leap Castle oubliette a forgotten little place Vanta M. Black writing, Your email address will not be published. According to history Leap castle is thought to have been built around 1250 over an existing site previously occupied by druids, who used the property for initiation ceremonies. However, their ruthless employers had poisoned their food so as to avoid having foot the bill. Sean Ryan of Leap Castle, insisted that he doesn't fabricate when telling the story of what he and his wife see and hear at their home. Sean invites you in to sit by the fire and then you wander around the castle on your own. Currently their numbers are back up to around 1000. Hand the torches back and then you are asked if you care to listen to some Irish music ( Sean is a well know Irish musician who has travelled the world). It was indeed a Fright-Ful Friday at Leap Castle. Check it out below. Apparently a family of owls lived there, preventing visitors to the oubliette for some time. The stag head above the fireplace at Leap Castle. During our visit with Sean Ryan, he spoke about the endangered red deer of Ireland. LIVE NOW The last in our series of Teatime Treats More mUsic and Dance from Leap Castle featuring Ciara Callanan-Ryan and Sean Ryan. A cranny across from the oubliette. The castle is privately owned by Sean Ryan, an Irish musician. Another infamous and most treacherous killing that took place at Leap Castle was when about 40 members of the northern McMahon clan had been hired by the O’Carrolls to train them in new methods of warfare. This floor is open to the elements, a step too far in Sean Ryan’s renovation so far. A look over the rolling green Irish hills from inside the Bloody Chapel at Leap Castle. (notice the man with the grey beard’s upward glance, and what happens in the next photo…), An orb appears above the tour guide’s head. This Elemental made its presence felt within the castle with a ferocious intensity for much of following century. A first glimpse into the oubliette at Leap Castle. You can now contact Sean Ryan in order to arrange tours etc. Darby however was later imprisoned for treason and when released years later, the turmoil of his time in captivity was such that he was unable to locate his treasure. Filled with music and laughter, the atmosphere is no longer sinister and troubled. LIVE NOW The last in our series of Teatime Treats More mUsic and Dance from Leap Castle featuring Ciara Callanan-Ryan and Sean Ryan. We’re on the cutting edge of the strange, the avant-garde and the unexpected, and we know you are, too. In the 1920’s bones from over 150 individuals were removed from it. Teatime Treats: Part 3 Night of Music & Dance from Leap Castle with Ciara & Sean. Once last look as we drive away. I visited Leap castle curious about the castle itself as much as its reputation of being the “most haunted castle in the world”. In 1922 workmen at Leap Castle found an oubliette in a secret dungeon hidden behind a wall in a corner of the Bloody Chapel. His renovation efforts were tragically cut short when he died in 1989. As you have probably already read, Sean has been living in and restoring Leap Castle between gigs since the 1990s. Their son, Jonathan Darby, hid vast treasures in the grounds of the castle during the English Civil War. We enjoyed visiting with Sean Ryan, who is currently the owner. Leap Castle is a fitting name for the most haunted place in Ireland. The tour guide tells stories about the Bloody Chapel and the oubliette. Leap Castle is a castle in Coolderry, County Offaly, Ireland, about 6 km north of the town of Roscrea and 10 km south of Kinnitty on the R421. It appeared mordant and foreboding, yet it was eerily beautiful. Sean Ryan, the owner of Leap Castle in Ireland, discusses the spirits that cohabitate in Leap Castle with his family Our visit to Leap Castle was the highlight of our trip to Ireland. To protect from trebuchets and catapults, the fortress needed to be impenetrable. (There are a couple of videos on YouTube where he is recorded talking about the history of the house - search for Sean Ryan Leap Castle Roscrea Irish Traditional Music Whistle or some combination). The owner, Sean Ryan, is restoring the castle himself so that makes it more personalized to visit. There they would be left to die a horrific death, within earshot of the merry making of their hosts and other, perhaps more welcome, guests in the hall below. In 1991, musician Sean Ryan and his wife Anne purchased Leap Castle and resumed its restoration, which is still ongoing. Leap Castle, with its bloody gorish stories has had the public intrigued for many years. Sean Ryan, the owner of Leap Castle, was kind enough to meet with us and show us this amazing landmark. The Elemental of Leap Castle is a frightening spirit said to haunt Leap Castle, a castle in Coolderry County Offaly, Ireland, about four miles north of the town of Roscrea on the R421. The castle is privately owned by Sean Ryan, an Irish musician. HoursMonday—Friday: 9:00AM–5:00PMSaturday & Sunday: 11:00AM–3:00PM. Given its history, it’s unsurprising that Leap is known as the Ireland’s most haunted location. What is it like to live in such a haunted home? See how the man with the grey beard seems to have sensed or seen it, even before it was there? Inside the conservatory on the back of Leap Castle. The castle is still in the throws of being renovated so there was quite a lot of unfinished areas. One can see for miles with a view of the rolling hills all around–which is what you need to protect a fortress from invaders. I perhaps saw now why the door was padlocked. A deeper look into the depths of the oubliette at Leap Castle. Even centuries later, when the castle laid in a state of ruin, passers-by have seen the window of the room light up suddenly late at night and his spirit is said to have been seen in the chapel and the staircase below. The fatally wounded priest fell onto the altar in front of his family and breathed his last. They (he and his wife, Anne, who I did not get to meet) live peacefully along their predecessors and “don’t bother each other”. Bartlett did extensive restorative work for fifteen years and claims to have witnessed poltergeist activity through much of it. The team from Project Dreamscape had the honor to visit Leap Castle, which is famously known as the “most haunted castle in Ireland”. appearing each time. Visiting Leap Castle is not the typical castle visit as this is a privately owned residence. Sean Ryan prefers to call them spirits rather than ghosts and continues to restore beautiful Leap Castle around them. To learn more about Leap Castle and its history, click here, and visit the Leap Castle Official Website. Sean Ryan and Vanta M. Black from Project Dreamscape meet and discuss his real oubliette, the inspiration for Black’s thriller, Oubliette. Sean Ryan, the owner of Leap Castle, was kind enough to meet with us and show us this amazing landmark. The pair live in the castle while also continuing to repair and restore the building. My husband mentioned "haunted" and Sean said he would never use that word, but had felt and seen spirits in the house, who were in no way interfering. The owner of the castle is the Irish musician Sean Ryan, who bought it in 1991, and has been taking care of himself since 1994 and has lived in it for 16 years. He tells me later that 2020 was to have been the year for that. Sean is a true original. The crumbling structure is in various states of repair, and we saw many sides to this magnificent structure. Receive all the stuff you love about Project Dreamscape on a regular basis. In the 1600s the ownership of Leap Castle passed to the Darby family, when the daughter of the O’Carroll chieftain fell in love with an English Captain Darby. Suspecting a rogue light beam or reflection on my camera’s lens to cause this, I took a few more shots and found the same round, blue “orb”(?) Sean Ryan, the owner of Leap Castle, tells the history of his castle and its role in Ireland. A dispute which was brought to an end by a brutal murder in the now aptly named “Bloody chapel”. - See 193 traveller reviews, 272 candid photos, and great deals for Roscrea, Ireland, at Tripadvisor. Our visit to Leap Castle was the highlight of our trip to Ireland. In the early nineteen hundreds the occult was a fashionable pastime for the gentry and Mildred begun dabbling in the black arts in Leap with terrifying results. Leap Castle Ireland's most haunted castle. He bought the ruined castle in 1974 and began a slow renovation to portions of the building until his death in 1989. When they explored the sinister dark hole further they made a horrific discovery: a large number of human skeletons amassed on top of wooden spikes. The two servants who helped him hide his riches were later murdered to guarantee their silence. © All Right Reserved By Project Dreamscape. Another victim of the year that was in it. The first thing I noticed about the castle, which Sean also pointed out, is that the atmosphere in the building, in spite of the activity and its reputation, is very “friendly”, for lack of better term. I at no point felt unease and the first sign of anything amiss was when I photographed the famous “bloody chapel”, which is situated on the third floor. A Visit to the Most Haunted Castle in Ireland. Imagine the things that creep and crawl and hide in those crevices. The castle was the principal seat of the fearsome Ely O’Carroll clan. I headed back to the chapel after a minute and walked across the room to take more photos with my camera, this time seeing the same blue “orb” appear again, close to the opening, but this time on the wall. Must visit if you have an opportunity. Since I saw the times of operation listed online, I did not call or email him beforehand to make an appointment to visit, but in reading some of the other reviews, that may be the more appropriate thing to do to ensure that the owner is around. Founded roughly around 1250, Leap Castle (pronounced “Lep”) was built by the O’Bannon Clan. Leap Castle is tucked in a thicket and difficult to discern from the road. In addition to its centuries-long history of conflict, the castle sits on an old site for druidic initiations. He is a musician and has taken up the task of restoring it. There was a room where live prisoners would be entombed to die slowly and dead bodies could be tossed when they became inconvenient. ... Zoe also directs music videos and is the writer and director of the short film Tides, and the award-winning feature, Demon Hunter. Some people who are inclined to believe in ghosts, might think the Bloody Chapel at Leap Castle is haunted…. youtube.com. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Coinciding with Halloween—our favorite time of the year by, What Is the Old Hag? We visited Leap Castle in June 2017. You can view the different levels in under 20 minutes and you come back down to the main room. Bartlett eventually sold the castle to Sean Ryan, who holds it now. This may be a good place to introduce yourself and your site or include some credits. Since I saw the times of operation listed online, I did not call or email him beforehand to make an appointment to visit, but in reading some of the other reviews, that may be the more appropriate thing to do to ensure that the owner is around. When asked about his experiences in the castle he told me they see and hear things near daily. I really enjoyed my visit and time spent at this wonderful castle and would highly recommend it to visitors, not just for the ghosts! Another view inside the conservatory. It can be malevolent, terrifying and unpredictable. Fair play to him Leap Castle was originally named Leim Ui Bhanain which means “Leap of the O’Bannons” which leads to the origin of its name.