Ghostly Irish Tales – The Phantom Jester

The Spooky Jester walks…

To the north of Dublin in Ireland can be found the village of Malahide, located on the south side of the Broadmeadow Estuary. A place known for its restaurants and pubs, it is also the site of a wonderful coastal walk. But perhaps one of Malahide’s most popular attractions is its grand, imposing castle.

Malahide Castle is set within a 260-acre parkland estate, with the oldest part dating back to the 12th century. The estate was originally granted to Richard Talbot, a knight who accompanied Henry II to Ireland in the year 1174. With such a long history, it is no surprise that the place has a reputation as one of Ireland’s most haunted castles, with a list of at least five spectral inhabitants.

Puck the Jester

Puck was a dwarf and court jester in the service of the Talbot family. He also worked as a watchman and made his home in one of the towers. His is a tragic tale. During the reign of Henry VIII, Lady Eleanora Fitzgerald was confined in Malahide Castle due to her rebellious tendencies. It was during this confinement that the little jester fell hopelessly in love with the beautiful noblewoman, and either hanged himself in misery after being rejected by her, or was stabbed to death one snowy December night just outside the castle walls - murdered by agents of the Talbot family who were horrified to learn of his infatuation.

Puck is one of the castle’s more beloved phantoms. He is mischievous and is known to enjoy photobombing selfies (sadly, I was unable to find any examples of these photos, but allegedly, they do exist).

The last confirmed sighting of this diminutive spectre was in 1976, when a staff member reported seeing him climbing some stairs, dressed in his jester’s outfit.

Miles Corbett

Miles Corbett ruled from Malahide Castle during the Cromwellian era. A much-hated and cruel man, he was one of the regicides - those responsible for the execution of King Charles I. Eventually, when the monarchy was restored following Cromwell’s death, he was captured and executed for his crimes, being hung, drawn, and quartered.

His ghost is usually sighted in the great hall, where he appears as a spectral knight in full armour that gradually falls to pieces before the terrified witness.

Lady Maud Plunkett

Lady Maud Plunkett was a beautiful and strong-willed woman, believed to have been the wife of Richard Talbot, the 1st Baron of Malahide. She was married three times - each marriage fraught with turmoil or tragedy. Her spirit is said to haunt the castle’s corridors, where witnesses claim to have seen her chasing her first husband, the unfortunate Chief Justice, whom she is said to have bullied terribly in life.

The Ghostly Prisoner

Deep within the older part of the castle, there was once a dungeon used in troubled times to hold political prisoners suspected of treason. Rumours speak of torture, execution, or folk simply abandoned and left to starve to death. One such prisoner was a Catholic sympathiser during a Protestant regime. Castle visitors believe they have heard his moaning or weeping; others say they hear him cry for mercy in the dead of night.

Lord Galtrim

The final phantom in this list is that of Sir Walter Hussey, Lord Galtrim. His tale is a sad one. He died violently in 1429 on the very day he was due to wed his beautiful young bride. He was ambushed and killed by a spear thrust to the side. His ghost is seen in the castle chapel, clutching miserably at his wound.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, my friend. I hope it was not too scary and that you are able to sleep well tonight. If you do enjoy terrifying tales, my new book Threads of Shadow is currently available to read in advance on Kindle (link below). The hardback and paperback versions of the book are set for release in early July 2025. Please consider supporting me by purchasing a copy and leaving a review.

Until next time—stay spooky.