Murder Most Foul
Leap Castle Gate |
Remember my little encounter in the Bloody Chapel of Leap Castle? Well, it looks like I got off easy. I keep finding more stories that make Edgar Allen’s stories seem rather fluffy.
While this McKenzie escaped with only a missing tab from her backpack, the clan McMahon didn’t fare quite as well.
A McKenzie Inside the Bloody Chapel |
Those O’Carrolls were downright nasty devils and not above hiring, then firing their employees–permanently. After the McMahon’s (about 40 of them, the story goes) provided their services, the O’Carrolls invited them to celebrate with a nice little arsenic (guessing here) laced feast. And poof. . . 40 more ghosts. That place is over-crowded with spirits not ready to forgive and forget.
The interesting thing is that whenever I asked the present-day owner what he could tell me about the castle that would be of interest, the word ghost never passed his lips.
Next week: The Treasure of Leap Castle
Who is this actor? I can’t remember his name.
DMS says
I guess this puts things into perspective- most bad bosses don't come close to being that bad! Wow! 🙂
~Jess
Stephen Tremp says
If you can make Edgar Allen Poe's works look fuzzy, then I bow to you. I'm not worthy (bad Wayne's World Imitation).
C. Lee McKenzie says
Maybe Edgar used some of these tales to jump start his tales!
sage says
The Scots should have stayed out of Ireland! And if not, it sounds like they should have avoided dinner parties!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Those Scots were always in trouble when they left home. And they kept leaving home.
Melissa says
Yeah, I noticed. LOL Posts live forever in Feedly. 😛
If you need guests, I'll visit. We can trade if you have some promo of your own or just want to guest post.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Love your plan. Looking forward to exchanging time on our blogs.
Tara Tyler R says
Leap Castle? wow what a legend! i'd be jumpy in that place! love a good ghost story, esp the real haunted places! cool!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Leap can make you jumpy all right!
Theresa Milstein says
You look pretty happy in that bloody, ghostly place.
Zadie Smith's quote is great.
C. Lee McKenzie says
The sun was out. If it had been dusk or night, I may not have been quite as cheerful.
Nick Wilford says
I bet most castles have lots of bloody tales like that. Lots of ghosts around.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yep! Castles seem to collect them.
Medeia Sharif says
That gave me the chills. How horrible.
Thank you for the Hats Off offer. I wrote down a note to take you up on that. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Look forward to hosting you, Medeia.
Shannon Lawrence says
If the feast tastes like almonds, skip it! Or am I misremembering what arsenic tastes like?
C. Lee McKenzie says
Is that right?I don't remember either. Have to do some research.
Alexa S. Winters says
Wow, that's a fascinating (and kind of terrible) story. Also, I love your quote! 😀 I'll have to add that to my list of favorites.
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbositybookreviews.wordpress.com
C. Lee McKenzie says
Glad the quote was interesting enough to collect! Thanks for your visit.
SA Larsenッ says
Wow, that places really has a knack for churning out ghosts.
C. Lee McKenzie says
LOL! You're right about that.
Suzanne Furness says
Ghostly tales abound at Leap Castle by the sounds of it.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I could do a collection of these! There are lots.
Kelly Hashway says
Ooh, that is quite grim! Eek!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi Kelly. The story is grim, grimmer, grimmest!
Tyrean Martinson says
Whoa. That's a terrible way to thank people.
It sounds like you had a great castle visit, though.
And I love that quote!
Plus, I would love to be featured, but since I'm blogging spotty for the next couple of months, I would love to be featured in the fall . . .
C. Lee McKenzie says
Fall is perfect! We'll talk.
Southpaw HR Sinclair says
And people still went there? They must have been so sneaky.
C. Lee McKenzie says
No internet! That's my guess. If the word had gotten out, there might have been fewer ghosts.
Michael Di Gesu says
Hi, Lee,
Gotta love GHOSTLY castes…. such a great subject. Anything is possible and probable. LOL.
Glad you enjoyed or are enjoying your Castle visits!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm always a sucker for a good ghost story!
Lexa Cain says
Oh my! It's like that GOT series where everyone's killing everyone off. :O
C. Lee McKenzie says
Bet they copied the story from this castle.
Blogoratti says
Really wonderful stories indeed. Greetings!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm not sure about wonderful, but they were intimidating.:-)
Birgit says
I don't think I would have wanted to work for that family if offered. The place looks great to visit. I love ghost stories. I don't know the actor but I read above me that you got your answer:)
C. Lee McKenzie says
Nope. I'd take unemployment first!
Shooting Stars Mag says
The actor is Andrew Scott – I don't know if anyone else has said it yet!
Interesting story though. I think ghost tours and stories are fascinating.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thank you for the name! You're the first to know.
Cherie Reich says
What a way to get "fired" from your job! It sounds like they would have a big ghost problem. They better call the Ghostbusters. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
That's what needs to be done. ASAP.
Jemi Fraser says
So many fascinating histories in those castles! They've lived through so many generations of people – and their ghosts 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Makes it very interesting and a bit creepy, although I didn't feel too spooked.
Beverly Stowe McClure says
Fascinating stories. Ghosts intrigue me, that's why I like to write about them. And what better place for ghosts than castles. Spooky happenings give me the shivers. I hope they're all friendly ghosts.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I know you like to write ghost stories! They're great.
dolorah says
Gotta keep control of those ghosts, never know what they'll get up to, lol. I've lived a few places with ghosts, mostly they just leave an eerie feeling. Don't think I've ever encountered one that was murdered though.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Well then, that must be on your bucket list. I've checked it off mine. 🙂
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – must have read and thought I'll come back to comment – and you'd whipped it away .. or one of your ghostly minions had. What very unpleasant neighbours … perhaps the present laird/owner doesn't want to be associated with psychopathic murderers … gosh who got rid of the bodies??!!
Wonderful story though and am glad you're safely back home – cheers Hilary
cleemckenzie says
When the ghosts want to make a mess of things for me, they do. Glad to have visited. Glad to be home. Guess you're still taking a break, so hope you're enjoying the time off.
Patricia Lynne says
That's a lot of ghosts. o.o Not sure I'd want to visit, but I am a wuss.
cleemckenzie says
Meet wuss#2. I'm not fond of ghosts at all.
Misha Gericke says
Scariest Leap Castle story is the Elemental.
cleemckenzie says
I've seen artists' idea of the Elemental, and I don't want to run into it.
Sarah Foster says
Wow–what an interesting (and terrible) story! I agree with Susan–sounds like something that would happen in GoT.
cleemckenzie says
Maybe the writers were inspired by the O'Carrolls. You never know.
nashvillecats2 says
Twice the enjoyment Lee. Both times a great read.
Yvonne.
cleemckenzie says
You're very kind. I couldn't believe I posted this AND another post on the same day. Vacations take their toll!
Susan Gourley/Kelley says
Wow, poisoning the people who did you a favor is pretty evil. Sounds ike Game of Thrones.
Susan Says
cleemckenzie says
It really does, which leads me to believe that this sort of thing was more common than just among the O'Carrolls.
Yolanda Renee says
Talk about overload on the inspiration. Amazing! Your stories are going to be spellbinding. Congrats on such a successful tiip. He never mentioned ghosts, must be immune or thinking of making a few of his own. RUN! 🙂
cleemckenzie says
Now there's something I hadn't considered. I can see the headlines now, Author Murdered in Haunted Castle.
L. Diane Wolfe says
That makes a pink slip look good. That castle has to be crawling with ghosts.
cleemckenzie says
Yep. I think it is.
Stephanie Faris says
Wow…what horrible people. It's very disturbing, some of the stories you hear! I was long haunted by the story of that house in New Orleans where the woman tortured all those people. I never forgot the story…and then they featured it on American Horror Story. It's called the LaLaurie Mansion and apparently Nicolas Cage bought it at one time. Just horrible stories about what the woman did to her slaves in the basement of the place.
cleemckenzie says
What do you suppose creates these kinds of monsters?
Julie Flanders says
Ooh I love this story. Next time I feel compelled to whine at work I'll remind myself that at least I don't work for the O'Carrolls.
Great pic of you at the chapel!
cleemckenzie says
Yes, that's one good thing about knowing the evils of the boss in this story.
Elizabeth Varadan, Author says
Good grief! They sound like dicey people, for sure. You say you are doing a series on the castle, but you must be getting great story ideas as well.
On another note, I'd love a bit of promo for my book that was released last month, Imogene and the Case of the Missing Pearls.
cleemckenzie says
I'm tucking a lot of castle description and evil deeds away for future reference.
Send me an email, Elizabeth and we can discuss the details about my hosting you and your book.
Natalie Aguirre says
I'll remember to never apply for a job there. Sounds like such an interesting trip.
cleemckenzie says
Beautiful place and deadly in it's early days.
Mason Canyon says
The O'Carrolls would make you rethink accepting dinner invitations.
cleemckenzie says
Yes. And get a taster, for heaven sakes!
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
I'm getting Deja vu…
Wouldn't want to work for that family.
cleemckenzie says
This week I got it right. Very clever of me to post the same thing two weeks in a row, don't you think?