The Dark Side of Dublin: Ghosts, Demons, Fairies & the Occult

2 h 15 min Free cancellation

The Dark Side of Dublin: Ghosts, Demons, Fairies & the Occult, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

What makes The Dark Side of Dublin distinctive is its combination of history, folklore and the supernatural. Rather than simply presenting a series of ghost stories, the tour explores the darker beliefs that shaped Dublin’s cultural history: fairies, séances, spiritualism, possessions, demons and occult traditions. The stories are rooted in real places and historical accounts, while also considering how legends developed and changed over time. The result is a tour somewhere between history and folklore, asking not only what may have happened, but why people believed it—and why these stories have remained part of Dublin’s imagination.

Private and Luxury Historical Tours Walking Tours Ghost Tours Seasonal Weather Dependent - Moderate

At a glance

Duration: 2 h 15 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 15 people
People per booking: 1–8
Guide: English
Operated by: Dublin Walking Tours

Ages: Adults (18–78 years)

What is included

Included

Included: A fun and informative introduction to Dublin’s history and culture, led by an engaging guide.

Not included

Not included: Gratuities

Itinerary

Saint Patrick's Cathedral

7 min Admission not included

Saint Patrick's Cathedral is Dublin’s largest cathedral and one of its most iconic landmarks. We’ll begin with demons and one of the darkest stories from Dublin’s past.
St. Audoen's Church

7 min

St. Audoen’s Church is one of Dublin’s oldest surviving medieval churches, with centuries of history, legends and stories woven into its walls. We’ll hear the strange story of an exorcism and a supposed encounter with the supernatural.
Grattan Bridge

7 min

Grattan Bridge was built in 1816 and crosses the River Liffey, linking Capel Street with Parliament Street in the heart of Dublin. We’ll delve into Irish fairy folklore and the darker side of the fairy world.
George's Street Arcade

7 min

George’s Street Arcade is a historic Victorian market in central Dublin, opened in 1881, and is one of the city’s oldest surviving shopping arcades. We’ll look at a strange 17th-century story of human combustion, one of Dublin’s most unsettling old mysteries.
Newman University Church

7 min

Newman University Church is a beautiful 19th-century Catholic church on St Stephen’s Green, designed by John Hungerford Pollen and opened in 1856 as part of the Catholic University of Ireland. Here we’ll return to Irish fairy folklore and a strange story of fairies coming to St Stephen’s Green.
Stop 6

7 min

3 Ely Place is a historic Georgian building associated with Dublin’s Theosophical community and the city’s late-19th-century interest in mysticism and the occult. We’ll explore W.B. Yeats, séances and Dublin’s fascination with the occult.
Merrion Square

7 min

Merrion Square is one of Dublin’s finest Georgian squares, laid out in the 18th century and surrounded by elegant red-brick houses and historic landmarks. We’ll meet the ghost hunter who investigated Dublin’s supernatural world.
Freemason's Hall

7 min

Freemasons’ Hall on Molesworth Street is the historic Dublin headquarters of Irish Freemasonry, built in 1869 in a striking Victorian Gothic style. We’ll uncover the legends linking Freemasonry, the Devil and the Night of the Big Wind.
Stop 9

7 min

The Shelbourne Hotel, overlooking St Stephen’s Green, opened in 1824 and is one of Dublin’s most famous historic hotels, known for its long history, famous guests, and enduring ghost stories. We’ll finish with hauntings, mediums and the story of little Mary Masters.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Let's meet outside the Gaiety Theatre on South King Street. It's right next to the Select store and across from the middle entrance (or the second entrance if counting from the Grafton Street side) of St. Stephen's Green Shopping Centre.