Saints and Glinners recount local spooky stories from Limerick village
IN A bid to get into the festive spooky spirit, it’s easy to switch on Netflix and revert to a Steven King classic but what about the stories that are under our very noses?
Nestled on the banks of the Shannon, the village of Glin in Co. Limerick is a treasure trove of haunting tales surrounding ghosts, fairies, and mistaken identities.
“Whether you believe the stories or not, people were scared,” says Glin native, Jimmy Reidy as he thinks back on the legends and experiences he encountered growing up here.
One notable story is that of the ghost of Abhainn na Sprioda, a stream located not too far from the village.
According to the tale, a local woman drowned 8 of her children here and as a result of her crime, was prevented from entering heaven. In order to do so, she would have to drain the well with a cup. The problem was, the cup was bottomless.
“Her ghost was always around and people were definitely afraid to pass there, especially at night,” says John Anthony Culhane who shared this story.
“My aunts and plenty other people claimed to see her when they were passing,” he continues.
Whilst helping her aunt on the farm, a young Annie Reidy believes she heard the wail of the Banshee. Recalling the event she says:
“The next morning a woman by the name of McNamara had died. My aunt turned to me and said “didn’t I tell you it would be an O or a Mac”.
The cry of the Banshee is one thing but according to Jimmy Reidy the sound of chains is as good as a death sentence.
“To hear chains was the most dangerous of all. If you heard that you were sure to be finished in some way or another,” says Jimmy.
He recalls an occasion in which he was startled by the sound of someone heading off to the mart, mistakenly believing the sound of the trap to be deathly chains.
“I heard nothing but chains and I couldn’t move. I discovered after a few minutes it was only a horse and cart heading off to the mart but I had gotten some fright,” he remembers.
From ghouls to ghosts to fairies, Ireland is littered with eerie tales of all sorts so instead of outsourcing your frightening fill, why not try looking closer to home?
You never know, what you find may give Mr. King a run for his money.