Touched by a Ghost?

What are ghosts? Are they, as I believe, simply a form of energy? If so, how can people feel as if they have been touched?

A lot more research is needed before I can even attempt to answer these questions, the only thing I know for sure is that "energy" or ghosts or spirits - call it what you want, can actually reach out and make physical contact.

The first time I felt an unseen touch was during an investigation in the abandoned Magdalene Laundry in Cork. We were on the upper floor in the dormitory area and I clearly felt someone tapping on my toes! The next time we were there I felt an arm encircle my waist. I thought one of the other investigators had bumped into me by mistake in the dark but when I flicked on my torch no one was near enough to me.

I asked the question anyway, just in case, but they all denied touching me.

For the next thirty minutes or so I kept feeling someone rubbing my belly. It only stopped when we moved down to the floor below.

 At an investigation in Duckett's Grove in Carlow, I felt a tug on my hair. Two of the other investigators had a similar experience and when the thermal imaging camera was aimed at their heads, cold spots showed up on both of them exactly where they said they had been touched.

Another night in an old derelict castle, I stumbled going up the stone staircase. A hand reached out and steadied me and I I turned to thank the person behind me only to find that he was six steps below me and couldn't have reached my arm.

I swung my torch to check if I'd touched the wall and mistaken it for a hand, but the wall was beyond my reach even when I stretched my elbow out towards it.

Recently during a private investigation I clearly felt a cat rubbing against my legs but there was no cat in the house. I found out later that the lady that used to live there always had a cat or two.

Quite often when I am in my kitchen I stand looking at the window with a cup of coffee. I usually feel a quick slap to the back of my head to get me to move out of the way. I couldn't figure this out for ages until it dawned on me that my kitchen is built on the site of the previous owner's shed and I am no doubt standing in her way!

People often ask me if I get spooked on investigations but the answer is, I am completely fascinated by this strange energy and am longing to one day know the truth......

Templenoe - Abandoned Farmhouse Pictures

Here are the pictures from our rather disappointing investigation in Kenmare. We had good fun during the night but did not hear or see anything unusual.

See the report for this investigation

Unexplained Sounds

When ghost hunting I have often heard things that don’t seem to make sense. I know our ears can play tricks on us especially in the dark but by using equipment to document the investigations, it is easy to check back and see if the noise was real or not. 

All serious investigators in Paranormal Ireland use recording equipment to document such events.

Sounds – Footsteps, knocking, moans and loud bangs are the most common sounds I have heard. A lot of the noises can be debunked afterwards. Using recording equipment – either standalone or on the video - helps greatly in identifying the cause of unusual noises when reviewing the investigation. 

Some noises are not that easily explained. 

1.      Footsteps were heard by the whole team in the castle part of the Duckett’s Grove investigation. After hearing noises in the corridor, we called out, inviting whoever was out there to enter the room with us. We all clearly heard what sounded like footsteps walking around us on the stone floor. 

2.       Again at Duckett’s Grove, we all heard the crunching of gravel underfoot while we were out in the wooded area – there was no gravel on the path, it was a hard-packed dirt track.

3.       While on an investigation in an old graveyard, I and another member of the team heard soft moans coming from just outside the graveyard walls. The walls were low and we could see through the trees behind and into a field. We used a thermal imager to check if there was any heat source in the field but there was no indication of anything there at the time. We agreed that the moans sounded female and were very brief – just a high-pitched “huh” sound. 

4.       During an investigation in an old converted mill, I and three other members of the team heard footsteps coming up the stairs just outside the door of the room we were investigating. We thought it was the other team member and waited for him to enter the room. The footsteps stopped just outside the door and one of the team went to check what was going on. There was no-one there. The other team member was downstairs and at the other end of the large building. 

5.       EVPs or electronic voice phenomena - sounds caught on a recording device but not heard by team members at the time of the investigation – are another source of unexplained noises. The name “Nora” found on my voice recorder after a private investigation remains unexplained. I felt a kind of energy in the room and called out asking for a name. I heard nothing at the time and finished up the investigation thinking it had not been very eventful until I reviewed the recorder. I have no idea who “Nora” is as no-one seems to know any “Nora” with a connection to that house. However, my grandmother’s name was Nora.......

There have been many more instances of unexplained sounds and I now enjoy the anticipation of wondering just what I will find when I review my equipment.

Suggested Reading List

Do you want to find out more about Ghosts or Ghost Hunting? I have put together a list of a few books that you may find interesting.

The Everything Ghost Hunting Book: Tips, tools, and techniques for exploring the supernatural world


Ghost Hunting for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started


True Irish Ghost Stories


Ghost Stories: Spooky Ghost Stories for Kids and Adults


Searching the Sídhe


Let me know what you think!

Other Irish Paranormal Teams

We have many Paranormal Teams in Ireland and we often get together for joint investigations. Check out this link for interviews with other Irish Teams