Thoor Ballylee, located in County Galway, Ireland, is a 16th-century Norman tower house famously associated with the poet W.B. Yeats. The poet purchased the property in 1917 and used it as a summer home for over a decade, drawing inspiration from its medieval atmosphere and surrounding landscape. The tower’s history, however, extends far beyond Yeats’ tenure, with centuries of occupation and tales of supernatural occurrences.

One of the most persistent ghost stories associated with Thoor Ballylee involves the spirit of a young woman seen wandering the grounds. Witnesses have reported glimpsing her pale figure near the river that runs alongside the tower, often in the early morning or late evening hours. Some accounts suggest she may be the ghost of a former occupant who drowned in the river centuries ago.

Inside the tower itself, visitors and staff have reported unexplained cold spots, particularly on the narrow stone staircase leading to the upper floors. Others have described hearing footsteps echoing through empty rooms and the sound of doors opening and closing on their own.

During Yeats’ time at Thoor Ballylee, he and his wife George reportedly experienced several paranormal incidents. They claimed to have witnessed objects moving of their own accord and heard disembodied voices engaged in hushed conversations. These experiences allegedly inspired some of Yeats’ supernatural-themed poetry and his interest in spiritualism.

In the years since Yeats’ departure, caretakers have reported similar phenomena, including the appearance of shadowy figures in the tower’s windows when the building was known to be empty. Some have even claimed to feel an unseen presence watching them as they work in the tower’s rooms.