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Ballynatray House dates to the late eighteenth century and was built on the site of an old castle.
It is said that if you visit the nearby church and seek out tombstones belonging to members of the Holroyd-Smyth family – former owners of this fine house, you will note that many of them died on the thirteenth of the month. This is said to be the result of a curse that was placed on the family by a young peasant woman during the great famine. She called to Ballynatray House, desperately seeking help for her ailing child, but was turned away. Legend has it that the young woman stepped backwards, cursing a generation of the family with each step – there were thirteen steps in total. The last member of the Holroyd-Smyth family that owned the great house, died on September the 13th, 1969.
It was also once said that horses would refuse to pass through the gates of Balynatray House. They would stop for a moment before bolting and dashing away at high speed.
If any users have shared their own paranormal experiences of Ballynatray House, these will be shared here. To add your own, click “Add Your Experience” below.
All experiences are, of course, open to interpretation. While entries are reviewed before publication to ensure they are relevant to the focus of this website, specific details cannot always be verified. I reserve the right to decline submissions or to redact sensitive information where necessary.
The house itself is privately owned and not open to the public, but I believe that the gardens are open on a seasonal basis.
Ballynatray House is either closed or it may be a private or inaccessible property.
Visitors should confirm opening hours and access before travelling to Ballynatray House or any location listed on this site. Information was last updated on June 1, 2026 – if anything has changed, you can suggest an amendment here.
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