Ghost Sightings

This hotel is the haunt of a ghostly lady whose name in life was Elizabeth, but who has long been known as “Maud”. She lived in the 17th century, when the property was home to successive Mayors of Carrickfergus, one of whom, a member of the Dobbin family, was her husband. Elizabeth is said to have become romantically involved with a soldier from nearby Carrickfergus Castle, whom tradition remembers simply as “button cap”. At night, she would creep through a tunnel that linked the house and castle to meet with him. On discovering her infidelity, her husband murdered her as she entered the tunnel en route to an illicit liaison. Making his way to the castle, he then rushed upon the astonished “button cap” and beheaded him. The ghost of Elizabeth Dobbin has wandered the building ever since, and staff have grown accustomed to her invisible shade gliding past them on her sorrowful quest to be reunited with her lover.

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