Leap Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leap Castle
Caisleán Léim Uí Bhánáin
Coolderry, Ireland in Ireland
Leap Castle in 2010
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Site information
Condition	Restored
Site history
Built	1250 AD
Materials	Stone
Events	Irish Civil War

Leap Castle (Irish: Caisleán Léim Uí Bhánáin) is a famous castle in Coolderry, County Offaly, Ireland. It is known for its long history and many ghost stories! You can find it about 6 km north of Roscrea and 10 km south of Kinnitty.

History of Leap Castle

There are different ideas about when the main tower of Leap Castle was built. Some say it was in the 13th century, others in the late 15th century. Most likely, it was built around 1250 CE.

The O'Bannon and O'Carroll Families

The O'Bannon family built the castle. They first called it "Léim Uí Bhanáin," which means "Leap of the O'Bannons." The O'Bannons were important leaders in the area. However, they were under the rule of the powerful O'Carroll family.

People believe that the castle was built on the site of an even older stone structure. This area has been lived in for a very long time. It might have been used since the Iron Age (around 500 BCE) or even earlier.

Early Battles and Ownership

In 1513, a powerful leader named Gerald FitzGerald, the Earl of Kildare, tried to take the castle. He was not successful at first. Three years later, in 1516, he attacked again and managed to damage part of the castle. But by 1557, the O'Carroll family had taken it back.

A Family Feud: The Bloody Chapel

After Mulrooney O'Carroll died in 1532, his family had many problems. There was a big fight among the O'Carroll brothers to become the new leader. This fight turned brothers against each other.

One of the brothers was a priest. He was holding a church service for his family in a room now called the "Bloody Chapel." Suddenly, his rival brother rushed into the chapel. He attacked the priest with his sword, hurting him badly. The priest fell onto the altar and died in front of his family.

The Darby Family and Ghost Stories

In 1659, the castle became owned by the Darby family through marriage. Important members of this family included Vice-Admiral George Darby. Later, Jonathan Charles Darby owned the castle.

His wife, Mildred Darby, was a writer of spooky stories. She held special meetings called séances at the castle. These meetings made the castle famous for its ghosts.

Damage and Restoration

The Darby family made the castle much bigger. To pay for these changes, they had to raise rents and sell some of the land. This might be why the castle was burned down during the Irish Civil War in 1922.

After the fire, it cost a lot of money to fix the castle. In 1974, an Australian historian named Peter Bartlett bought the ruined castle. His mother's family had been Bannons. Peter Bartlett and a builder named Joe Sullivan worked hard to restore the castle.

Since 1991, the musician Seán Ryan and his wife Anne have owned Leap Castle. They are still working to restore it and keep its history alive.

The Oubliette: A Secret Dungeon

During renovations in the 1900s, workers found a secret oubliette behind a wall in the castle's chapel. An oubliette is a hidden dungeon where prisoners were forgotten.

Discovery of Bones

At the bottom of this deep shaft, workers found many human skeletons. They were piled up on wooden spikes. When the oubliette was cleaned out, it took three cartloads to remove all the bones!

Today, the dungeon is covered to keep people safe. It is believed that the O'Carrolls would drop their unwanted guests through a trap door. These people would then fall onto the spikes 8 feet below. A pocket watch found at the same time, from the mid-1800s, shows that the oubliette might have been used not too long ago.

Haunting Stories of Leap Castle

Leap Castle is known as one of the most haunted castles in the world! Many people have reported seeing and feeling strange things there.

Famous Ghosts of Leap Castle

• The Red Lady: People say a ghost called the Red Lady walks the halls. She is often seen holding a dagger.
• Charlotte and Emily: Two little girls named Charlotte and Emily are said to run up and down the spiral staircase. Emily reportedly died after falling from the top of the castle tower. Charlotte is still seen looking for her sister and calling her name.

Paranormal Investigations

Because of its spooky reputation, Leap Castle has been visited by many ghost hunters. TV shows like Scariest Places on Earth, Most Haunted, and Ghost Hunters have filmed there. In 2014, Ghost Adventures also filmed a Halloween special at the castle.

The Elemental Spirit

The castle is also said to be haunted by a scary spirit known only as "It." Mildred Darby, who lived in the castle, described this creature. She said it was about the size of a sheep with a human face. It had black holes for eyes and a nose and smelled like a rotting body.

See also

In Spanish: Castillo de Leap para niños