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It had become a game to the local teens.

“Let’s go annoy the crazy lady!”

Everyone said Killarney House was haunted. Since their coming to America, since they’d constructed the house, every member of the O’Hurlahee family had died there, their deaths foretold by the wailing Banshee that had followed them from their native Ireland. The all heard the Banshee before they died, so the story went.

In the ten years since she’d bought the house, Frances hadn’t seen—or heard—any ghost.

She had seen plenty of annoying teenagers, though.

She’d chase them away; they’d come back. She’d turn the garden hose on them; they filmed her with their cellphones.

“You’re making it worse,” friends told her. “Putting on a show for them.”

“Horseshit!” Frances always replied.

Tonight a carload of the brats sat parked across the street, honking their horn to torment her, calling her name. Frances tried to ignore it but at last her nerves gave out. She seized a frying pan from its peg on the wall and charged out the front door. She’d show them.

“Here she comes!”

“Get out of here!” Frances charged into the street.

Then she heard it. Her bone marrow turned to ice. The screech of the Banshee.

It sounded just like the squealing of tires.

“Look out!” the brats shouted, too late.

Frances didn’t feel the impact.

The Banshee had announced another death at Killarney House.

Reposted from Ghost Stories and Haunted Places | Go to Original Post

It had become a game to the local teens.

“Let’s go annoy the crazy lady!”

Everyone said Killarney House was haunted. Since their coming to America, since they’d constructed the house, every member of the O’Hurlahee family had died there, their deaths foretold by the wailing Banshee that had followed them from their native Ireland. The all heard the Banshee before they died, so the story went.

In the ten years since she’d bought the house, Frances hadn’t seen—or heard—any ghost.

She had seen plenty of annoying teenagers, though.

She’d chase them away; they’d come back. She’d turn the garden hose on them; they filmed her with their cellphones.

“You’re making it worse,” friends told her. “Putting on a show for them.”

“Horseshit!” Frances always replied.

Tonight a carload of the brats sat parked across the street, honking their horn to torment her, calling her name. Frances tried to ignore it but at last her nerves gave out. She seized a frying pan from its peg on the wall and charged out the front door. She’d show them.

“Here she comes!”

“Get out of here!” Frances charged into the street.

Then she heard it. Her bone marrow turned to ice. The screech of the Banshee.

It sounded just like the squealing of tires.

“Look out!” the brats shouted, too late.

Frances didn’t feel the impact.

The Banshee had announced another death at Killarney House.

Reposted from Ghost Stories and Haunted Places | Go to Original Post

It had become a game to the local teens.

“Let’s go annoy the crazy lady!”

Everyone said Killarney House was haunted. Since their coming to America, since they’d constructed the house, every member of the O’Hurlahee family had died there, their deaths foretold by the wailing Banshee that had followed them from their native Ireland. The all heard the Banshee before they died, so the story went.

In the ten years since she’d bought the house, Frances hadn’t seen—or heard—any ghost.

She had seen plenty of annoying teenagers, though.

She’d chase them away; they’d come back. She’d turn the garden hose on them; they filmed her with their cellphones.

“You’re making it worse,” friends told her. “Putting on a show for them.”

“Horseshit!” Frances always replied.

Tonight a carload of the brats sat parked across the street, honking their horn to torment her, calling her name. Frances tried to ignore it but at last her nerves gave out. She seized a frying pan from its peg on the wall and charged out the front door. She’d show them.

“Here she comes!”

“Get out of here!” Frances charged into the street.

Then she heard it. Her bone marrow turned to ice. The screech of the Banshee.

It sounded just like the squealing of tires.

“Look out!” the brats shouted, too late.

Frances didn’t feel the impact.

The Banshee had announced another death at Killarney House.

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I did this post on The Kildare Mansion a couple of years ago. I have updated to include some of the more recent controversies surrounding this magnificent, haunted mansion. The Kildare Mansion was first famous for it’s ghosts.  It was built in 1886 by a wealthy Irishman named O’Shaughnessy.   He built the castle as a reminder of his homeland, Ireland.   He put a fortune into making it the most extravagant house in the area and he did a good job of it.  This giant of a house overshadows everything around it. It has over 40 rooms and is over 17,000 square feet including the massive basement.   In 1900, MR. O’Shaughnessy went blind and his wife Anna sold Kildare to the trust fund established for Mary McCormick who inherited a multi million dollar fortune from her father

Unfortunately, Mary McCormick was mentally ill and suffered greatly during certain periods.  At the time,  treatment options were limited so they kept her locked in the house and had several nurses and staff to take care of her.  During her lucid periods,  Mary a wonderful woman who was known for her kindness and generosity.   For her entire life, she needed nurses to help her care for her mental illness.  Finally she had to retire to a sanitarium,  leaving her beautiful house behind.

From 1932- 1975, the Kildare Mansion fell into disrepair.   It decayed slowly as slums and lesser buildings slowly surrounded it hiding it’s beauty in their sullen shadows.  In 1975, the house was purchased by the Reeves, who lovingly restored the house to its original splendor  It was during this time that the house was shown in the tour of historic homes and became a popular visit for haunt jaunters.   The house’s basement was notoriously haunted by the ghost of  Mary McCormick.   Still tormented by her madness, she apparently made quite a ruckus at night.

In 2005 the house was bought by a family whose name I won’t mention.  Since that time, the ghosts have become the least interesting part of this house.   The house has always been a favorite site for anyone visiting Huntsville because of its historic significance, its beauty, and its haunted history.  Many people drive by the house and photograph it.   Since 2005, however, the new owners have spent a considerable amount of time watching out for anyone lingering near the house.  If you drive by slowly or stop in front of the house,  a woman will emerge screaming at you.  Sometimes she’ll curse and sometimes she’ll use the garden hose to spray your car.  Other times she would shine a spotlight on you and others she’ll take pictures of you with her cell phone.  No matter what the new owner does, it was always hostile and she seems to always be watching.  She sat day and night waiting for those that linger too long, which might make one wonder if  Mary McCormick’s mental illness might not be spreading?   Perhaps the house and its dark secrets have driven the new owner mad?  Perhaps madness is part of the curse of the house?  I drove by the house several times during this owner’s occupancy.  I brought my children and parked across the street and would never think of harrassing anyone.  The woman came screaming from her home all three times.  One time she threw rocks at my car.  One time she just cursed at my children and I and called the police.  Another time she threw grass and called the police.  We were not on her property, we just wanted to see the legendary house that I had read so much about.  I visit all the local historic houses and have always been able to sit quietly in my car and take photos.  Some owners even offer tours and are on local tours.  Kildare Castle is different.  It sits in a shadow that spreads out beyond its ghosts.  It almost feels cursed.

Sadly,  the reason most drive by these days is to see the owner run out and start screaming.  Her wild antics have become a fun attraction for locals who stop by just to see her jump around and scream  Few remember the ghost stories or the house’s beautiful history.

The house has become even more infamous in recent years as the owner has tried to put up a massive fence (13 feet tall) and the city stopped construction.  The owner then decided to demolish the house.  The city and local history buffs are fighting this action but the outcome is as of yet, unpredictable.  Since the owners behavior remains outlandish, the behavior of locals has gotten even worse.  Kids love to see the owner flip out and will sit in front of the house and honk their horn for hours to get a response.  It is a tragedy.  Please read the comments below this post as they tell so many stories from people who have actually lived in this home and in the neighborhood.

Some of the footage and information on the ongoing struggles and controversies surrounding this historic beauty can be seen at:  http://www.kildaremansion.com/

Reposted from Ghost Stories and Haunted Places | Go to Original Post

I did this post on The Kildare Mansion a couple of years ago. I have updated to include some of the more recent controversies surrounding this magnificent, haunted mansion. The Kildare Mansion was first famous for it’s ghosts.  It was built in 1886 by a wealthy Irishman named O’Shaughnessy.   He built the castle as a reminder of his homeland, Ireland.   He put a fortune into making it the most extravagant house in the area and he did a good job of it.  This giant of a house overshadows everything around it. It has over 40 rooms and is over 17,000 square feet including the massive basement.   In 1900, MR. O’Shaughnessy went blind and his wife Anna sold Kildare to the trust fund established for Mary McCormick who inherited a multi million dollar fortune from her father

Unfortunately, Mary McCormick was mentally ill and suffered greatly during certain periods.  At the time,  treatment options were limited so they kept her locked in the house and had several nurses and staff to take care of her.  During her lucid periods,  Mary a wonderful woman who was known for her kindness and generosity.   For her entire life, she needed nurses to help her care for her mental illness.  Finally she had to retire to a sanitarium,  leaving her beautiful house behind.

From 1932- 1975, the Kildare Mansion fell into disrepair.   It decayed slowly as slums and lesser buildings slowly surrounded it hiding it’s beauty in their sullen shadows.  In 1975, the house was purchased by the Reeves, who lovingly restored the house to its original splendor  It was during this time that the house was shown in the tour of historic homes and became a popular visit for haunt jaunters.   The house’s basement was notoriously haunted by the ghost of  Mary McCormick.   Still tormented by her madness, she apparently made quite a ruckus at night.

In 2005 the house was bought by a family whose name I won’t mention.  Since that time, the ghosts have become the least interesting part of this house.   The house has always been a favorite site for anyone visiting Huntsville because of its historic significance, its beauty, and its haunted history.  Many people drive by the house and photograph it.   Since 2005, however, the new owners have spent a considerable amount of time watching out for anyone lingering near the house.  If you drive by slowly or stop in front of the house,  a woman will emerge screaming at you.  Sometimes she’ll curse and sometimes she’ll use the garden hose to spray your car.  Other times she would shine a spotlight on you and others she’ll take pictures of you with her cell phone.  No matter what the new owner does, it was always hostile and she seems to always be watching.  She sat day and night waiting for those that linger too long, which might make one wonder if  Mary McCormick’s mental illness might not be spreading?   Perhaps the house and its dark secrets have driven the new owner mad?  Perhaps madness is part of the curse of the house?  I drove by the house several times during this owner’s occupancy.  I brought my children and parked across the street and would never think of harrassing anyone.  The woman came screaming from her home all three times.  One time she threw rocks at my car.  One time she just cursed at my children and I and called the police.  Another time she threw grass and called the police.  We were not on her property, we just wanted to see the legendary house that I had read so much about.  I visit all the local historic houses and have always been able to sit quietly in my car and take photos.  Some owners even offer tours and are on local tours.  Kildare Castle is different.  It sits in a shadow that spreads out beyond its ghosts.  It almost feels cursed.

Sadly,  the reason most drive by these days is to see the owner run out and start screaming.  Her wild antics have become a fun attraction for locals who stop by just to see her jump around and scream  Few remember the ghost stories or the house’s beautiful history.

The house has become even more infamous in recent years as the owner has tried to put up a massive fence (13 feet tall) and the city stopped construction.  The owner then decided to demolish the house.  The city and local history buffs are fighting this action but the outcome is as of yet, unpredictable.  Since the owners behavior remains outlandish, the behavior of locals has gotten even worse.  Kids love to see the owner flip out and will sit in front of the house and honk their horn for hours to get a response.  It is a tragedy.  Please read the comments below this post as they tell so many stories from people who have actually lived in this home and in the neighborhood.

Some of the footage and information on the ongoing struggles and controversies surrounding this historic beauty can be seen at:  http://www.kildaremansion.com/

Reposted from Ghost Stories and Haunted Places | Go to Original Post

The best ghost stories are often the ones that very few people know.  They are the private ones that people tell you at parties and in confidence.  They are not the stories told by those who are seeking publicity or notoriety.  They are told by those who are genuinely scared by an even they don’t want everyone to know.

I spoke with a woman today whose name I won’t mention.  She told me about a home she had in Pell City, Alabama.   She knew there was something slightly off the house to begin with.  The realtor told her that someone had died in the house.  She didn’t have any details, but she knew the house had a history.  Almost as soon as she moved in the house, she noticed small electronic glitches throughout the home.   Her garage door opened and closed on its own in the middle of the night.  Lights flickered.  The light in her china cabinet went on and off constantly.

Despite this, she didn’t feel anything malevolent in the events so she just ignored the oddities until her daughter described seeing the ghost running through the house.  The daughter described the spirit as a woman.  At this point, the woman told the ghost to go away and she was given a reprieve from disturbances for a while.  But when the ghost came back, it came back in full force.  The next time the ghost came, she saw it.  She saw the reflection of a pale and sad woman in her mirror.  She told the ghost to go away again and it left.

She moved.  The ghost didn’t drive her out.   Life just moved her to a new location.   But despite the relocation,  the lights in the china cabinet have never been right and she still feels the ghost presence.  It doesn’t scare her.  She just describes the ghost as feeling lost and lonely.  Periodically, electrical problems will get worse and one time the china cabinet cracked spontaneously.  She believes this happened when the ghost was mad. She asked me if I thought the ghost could have followed her,  I said yes.  She agreed.  She thought the ghost felt less lonely with her.  Hauntings come and go but some ghosts follow people more than places.  Some ghosts are just lonely. 

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The best ghost stories are often the ones that very few people know.  They are the private ones that people tell you at parties and in confidence.  They are not the stories told by those who are seeking publicity or notoriety.  They are told by those who are genuinely scared by an even they don’t want everyone to know.

I spoke with a woman today whose name I won’t mention.  She told me about a home she had in Pell City, Alabama.   She knew there was something slightly off the house to begin with.  The realtor told her that someone had died in the house.  She didn’t have any details, but she knew the house had a history.  Almost as soon as she moved in the house, she noticed small electronic glitches throughout the home.   Her garage door opened and closed on its own in the middle of the night.  Lights flickered.  The light in her china cabinet went on and off constantly.

Despite this, she didn’t feel anything malevolent in the events so she just ignored the oddities until her daughter described seeing the ghost running through the house.  The daughter described the spirit as a woman.  At this point, the woman told the ghost to go away and she was given a reprieve from disturbances for a while.  But when the ghost came back, it came back in full force.  The next time the ghost came, she saw it.  She saw the reflection of a pale and sad woman in her mirror.  She told the ghost to go away again and it left.

She moved.  The ghost didn’t drive her out.   Life just moved her to a new location.   But despite the relocation,  the lights in the china cabinet have never been right and she still feels the ghost presence.  It doesn’t scare her.  She just describes the ghost as feeling lost and lonely.  Periodically, electrical problems will get worse and one time the china cabinet cracked spontaneously.  She believes this happened when the ghost was mad. She asked me if I thought the ghost could have followed her,  I said yes.  She agreed.  She thought the ghost felt less lonely with her.  Hauntings come and go but some ghosts follow people more than places.  Some ghosts are just lonely. 

Reposted from Ghost Stories and Haunted Places | Go to Original Post

The best ghost stories are often the ones that very few people know.  They are the private ones that people tell you at parties and in confidence.  They are not the stories told by those who are seeking publicity or notoriety.  They are told by those who are genuinely scared by an even they don’t want everyone to know.

I spoke with a woman today whose name I won’t mention.  She told me about a home she had in Pell City, Alabama.   She knew there was something slightly off the house to begin with.  The realtor told her that someone had died in the house.  She didn’t have any details, but she knew the house had a history.  Almost as soon as she moved in the house, she noticed small electronic glitches throughout the home.   Her garage door opened and closed on its own in the middle of the night.  Lights flickered.  The light in her china cabinet went on and off constantly.

Despite this, she didn’t feel anything malevolent in the events so she just ignored the oddities until her daughter described seeing the ghost running through the house.  The daughter described the spirit as a woman.  At this point, the woman told the ghost to go away and she was given a reprieve from disturbances for a while.  But when the ghost came back, it came back in full force.  The next time the ghost came, she saw it.  She saw the reflection of a pale and sad woman in her mirror.  She told the ghost to go away again and it left.

She moved.  The ghost didn’t drive her out.   Life just moved her to a new location.   But despite the relocation,  the lights in the china cabinet have never been right and she still feels the ghost presence.  It doesn’t scare her.  She just describes the ghost as feeling lost and lonely.  Periodically, electrical problems will get worse and one time the china cabinet cracked spontaneously.  She believes this happened when the ghost was mad. She asked me if I thought the ghost could have followed her,  I said yes.  She agreed.  She thought the ghost felt less lonely with her.  Hauntings come and go but some ghosts follow people more than places.  Some ghosts are just lonely. 

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