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Looking for a unique place that’s little-known to tourists? We recommend Black Hag, an Irish medieval abbey located 3km from the village of Shanagolden in County Limerick. More confidential than Ireland’s major tourist attractions, this site nevertheless has its own magic, its own legend (the place is said to be haunted), and will delight budding photographers, fans of places worthy of Tolkien!

History of Black Hag Abbey

A haunted place

Black Hag is an Irish medieval abbey believed to have been founded in the 13th century. It is said to have been built on the land of a certain John FitzThomas de Connello.

The name of the place wasn’t always “Black Hag“. Its earliest mentions referred to it as the“Abbey of St Catherine de O’Conyl“.

First mentioned in written records in 1298, St. Catherine’s Augustinian Abbey is considered to be one of the earliest and indeed one of the few known medieval convents in Ireland.

Visit Black Hag

Let’s face it: Black Hag is a pretty hard place to find. Set in a valley, hidden under trees, this medieval site is well worth a visit, and will take some perseverance to find. However, if you use our GPS coordinates, you should have no trouble finding it.

And believe us, it’s well worth the detour!

Now in ruins, the site has a unique charm worthy of Ireland’s finest medieval sites! Its atmosphere is worthy of a Tolkien setting (the author of Lord of the Rings), and you’ll be tempted to take photos (the location is considered to have strong Instagram potential).

In any case, Black Hag consists of an abbey church with two small adjacent spaces – one of which is now known as the Black Witch’s Cell, but which appears to have been a sacristy. The site also boasts a ruined cloister and refectory to the south.

From the refectory, a newer building extends southwards towards a stream. According to archaeologists, it may have been a kitchen. Vegetation has invaded, adding to the beauty of the building.

Other ancient sites have also been identified. The abbey also boasted a dovecote, a former orchard and a fish pond. Numerous tombs have also been discovered.

Don’t miss the arched doorway, which contrasts magnificently with the surrounding forest. The place is steeped in history, taking you straight back to the Irish Middle Ages!

Make the most of your time: you’re free to visit it, but be warned: the abbey is reputed to be one of the most haunted places in Ireland!

Interested? Scared? Let’s hear it!

The Black Hag, a haunted abbey

I might as well warn you: whether you believe in the supernatural or not, and although the place is beautiful, there’s a strange, dark and unhealthy atmosphere here. Hard to explain, the place seems charged with an unpleasant, deeply sinister energy.

A feeling that could be explained by two stories about the abbey.

For a start, it’s said to be here that the Countess of Desmond was buried alive. A fact that would have been proven historically: his ghostly appearance many centuries later would have triggered an investigation… The researchers then uncovered a shallow grave, revealing the skeleton of a woman! The search revealed that the young woman struggled in agony before dying…

It’s enough to make you wonder about the veracity of supernatural apparitions in the abbey!

Terrifying, isn’t it?

However, it wasn’t this story that earned the place the name “Black Hag”. It all began with the abbey’s last nun. According to local legend, she was a member of the FitzGerald family and lived there in the abbey, sleeping in a cell to the south of the church.

She was then said to have devoted herself to black magic, practicing satanic rituals and invoking evil spirits. Described as a black witch by the locals, whom she terrified (hence the name Black Hag), she is said to have left an indelible mark on the site by the presence of evil spirits.

Buried on the site, many Irish people still feel its energy… and many Dark Tourism enthusiasts flock there to discover its terrifying charm!

Practical Guide