Well, St Patrick’s Day is quickly approaching, and I thought it would be fun to read some good Irish horror novels. Here’s a list of Irish horror novels that will keep you up all night reading and thinking about rolling Irish hills.
Cast a Cold Eye by Alan Ryan
Jack Quinlan, an American author, ventures to a secluded village in the western part of Ireland to investigate the Irish Famine for his new book. Despite its serene appearance, the village conceals unsettling mysteries. Peculiar behavior among the locals, the secretive actions of Father Henning, the parish priest, and a cryptic ritual in the cemetery pique Jack’s curiosity. As he delves deeper, he unearths haunting revelations linking past tragedies to present terrors. “Cast a Cold Eye” (1984) is a gripping horror tale, weaving an eerie atmosphere and suspenseful narrative that will captivate readers until its chilling climax.
The Dead House by Billy O Callaghan
This acclaimed debut from an award-winning author offers a chilling blend of contemporary ghost story and gripping psychological thriller. Maggie, a talented artist plagued by romantic misfortune, seeks solace away from London’s chaos to mend both physically and emotionally. Finding refuge on Ireland’s rugged coast, she purchases a dilapidated cottage steeped in history. As renovations near completion, she hosts a weekend gathering with her art dealer and two friends, unaware of the ominous turn the night will take when an Ouija board is introduced. What malevolent force they unwittingly unleash promises to haunt them indefinitely.
October Moon by Michael Scott
An idyllic vacation in Ireland becomes a nightmare when members of an ancient clan decide to pass their curse of immortality on to Rachel and her parents on the mystical night of the October Moon.
Last Ones Left Alive by Sarah Davis-Goff
Orpen, raised in seclusion by her mother and Maeve on a remote island in a post-apocalyptic Ireland, has spent her life training to combat an unseen enemy. Yearning for connection and the chance to find other survivors, she feels drawn to the mainland. However, danger lurks there in the form of the flesh-eating skrake. When disaster strikes, leaving Orpen alone with an unconscious Maeve, she faces a perilous decision. Determined to seek help, she embarks on a treacherous journey across the country to reach the legendary banshees, an all-female fighting force rumored to confront the skrake. Yet, as Orpen soon discovers, the skrake are not the only threat she must confront on her quest.
Nothing on Earth by Conor O’Callaghan
In the midst of the hottest August in memory, a frightened girl seeks refuge at a stranger’s door, forever altering his world. She recounts her family’s eerie existence in the show home of an abandoned housing estate—endless days of sunbathing, stifling nights fraught with strange noises, and cryptic messages appearing on dusty windows. As her family members vanish one by one, doubts arise: Is she truthful? Is he? In a reality where lines blur, discerning truth becomes an elusive task.
The Watchers by A.M. Shine
This Irish horror novel is about to become a movie. I read it last year, but I’m still thinking about seeing it in the theater.
In an uncharted forest where every car breaks down at its edge, Mina’s stranded vehicle leads her into darkness where she encounters a frantic woman urging her to seek refuge in a concrete bunker. Locked inside as screams echo outside, Mina discovers a room with a glass wall and an electric light that illuminates at night, signaling the emergence of the Watchers, who observe captive humans above ground. Desperate for answers among strangers, Mina grapples with questions about the Watchers’ identity and their sinister motives for imprisoning humans and meticulously monitoring their every move.
The Guest House by Abbie Frost
Upon arriving at The Guesthouse, a striking old edifice nestled in a secluded Irish hillside, after booking a room via the Cloud BNB app, you anticipate a tranquil retreat. However, your expectations are shattered as you uncover a chilling reality: a killer has orchestrated your presence along with six other unsuspecting guests, trapping you all within the confines of the ominous building, leaving escape an impossibility.
Well, that’s the list. I hope these Irish horror novels give you all the spooky feelings your looking for. Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day or just any other day these books should sweep you away into an interesting world and get a break from the stressful everyday.