Irish Ghost Stories: 15+ Spooktacular Vocabulary

We realize that we just missed the boat with Halloween, but that doesn’t make these Irish ghost stories any less interesting.

For all you dedicated language learners out there, have no fear; we’re also going to include some useful vocab related to the weird and wonderful world of the paranormal.

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Irish Ghost Stories – Helpful Vocabulary

These are the typical words used when talking about the spirits roaming the planet. Join in the conversation by knowing some of these spooky words.

What Is An Example Of An Irish Ghost Story?

This is a story told to me about my great-grandfather, who used to travel through County Antrim. 

Once upon a time, a young man named Finn Mcgregor was traveling alone through the Irish countryside. 

He wanted to get his head down for the night when he noticed a cottage down a small track nestled in the woods. 

He knocked on the door, and a toothless old lady answered.

‘Yes?’ She hissed.

‘I was wondering if you’d be so kind as to let me bed here for the night.’

She gazed at him through ancient, glaucomic eyes. ‘Come in, boy, come.’

The cottage was sparsely furnished, and the old lady sat in a rocking chair, spooling and unspooling a ball of yarn with her spindly fingers.

‘I ask of you only one thing, boy. Tell me a good story that will make the time pass by faster.’

Young Finn hesitated. ‘I’m but 18 years old; I have no story to tell.’

The old woman spat on the ground. ‘What is a man if he has no story? Well, if you are barren of tales, make yourself useful and fetch me some water from the well.’

He made his way outside into the dark woods where he spotted a heavy enamel bucket and began lowering it into the well. After a minute, the bucket still had yet to reach the bottom. Young Finn’s arms ached, and he wrapped his wrists with the rope so he wouldn’t drop it.

Suddenly, he felt a pull from the other end of the line, then a yank. He desperately tried to untangle his hands from the rope, but it was no good. The next jerk sent him over the edge of the well and tumbling into the dark.

He was sure he was dead; however, when he opened his eyes, it was not darkness that he saw; instead, he was in a mysterious land surrounded by three men dressed all in black. Above, Finn could see the dangling rope and a hole in the sky that led back to his world.

Before he could escape, the strongest of the three men picked Finn up and put him over his shoulder. They walked across the field, whereupon they came into a cemetery.

‘Who will dig the grave?’ The first hooded man said, dumping Finn on the earth.

‘But who else?’ The second man answered.

‘The traveling stranger!’ The third man continued.

They handed him a shovel, and he was forced to dig a grave 6 feet wide and 6 feet deep. After many hours, Finn collapsed at the grave’s edge, panting for breath, when the men started up again.

‘Who will lie in the coffin?’ The first man said.

‘But who else?’ The second man answered.

‘The traveling stranger.’ The third man continued.

With what little strength he had left, Finn swang the shovel at the first man and sent him tumbling; then, he took off back in the direction of the well and the hole in the sky.

Two of the men pursued him, fire spitting from their mouths. Finn reached the rope and desperately pulled himself up, as the two robed and hooded men did likewise. 

He climbed and climbed and climbed because he knew his life depended on it, and eventually, he spotted the stars twinkling at the entrance of the well. He hauled himself over the bricks and furiously hacked away the rope with his knife so the men would drop back into the netherworld.

When the rope was cut, he fled to the house and pounded on the ancient wooden door.

‘Help, help. The figures of death are chasing me!’

The door creaked open, and the old woman was grinning her toothless grin. ‘My sweet young boy, now you have a story to tell.’

Ghost Stories In Irish – Helpful Phrases

To inquire about ghostly places and things, it’ll be helpful to know how to ask about them, so here you go!

Learn Irish With Ling

We have more Irish ghost stories if you’d like to hear them. Ireland has a fascinating and macabre history that even outstrips England. How about next time the tale of the murdered jester or the mysterious fairy mounds?

We hope this blog has clarified that learning a new language doesn’t have to be a harrowing experience. Times have moved on, and attitudes toward learning have changed for the better.

Ling is all about fun! Our mini-games and quizzes take the strain out of learning. We believe in short bursts of learning over a consistent period, which means 7 minutes a day for 7 days (and beyond). You’ll find that more information sticks if you limit the time you spend learning. Cramming just doesn’t cut it anymore!

If you enjoyed this blog, think about checking out a few others, such as accommodation vocabulary in Irish and Irish weather vocabulary.

Thanks for reading, and make sure next time you’re in the Irish countryside, stay away from any cottages in the woods!