In June 1889, Lough Muckno in Castleblayney became the site of a chilling paranormal encounter, witnessed by a woman named Mrs. MacAlpine.

The following is an excerpt from her account, as published in True Irish Ghost Stories by St. John D. Seymour and Harry L. Neligan:

Mrs. MacAlpine recounts: “In June 1889, I traveled to Castleblayney, County Monaghan, to meet my sister. I expected her arrival at three o’clock, but when she didn’t arrive on the scheduled train, I put the horse away and decided to take a walk through the demesne. Eventually, feeling tired, I sat on a rock by the edge of the lake. The scene before me was breathtaking on that glorious summer day, and I found myself lost in its beauty. Suddenly, a cold chill washed over me, and I felt a strange stiffness in my limbs, as if I couldn’t move, despite my desire to do so. A sense of dread overwhelmed me, yet I was somehow drawn to stare at the water. Slowly, a black cloud seemed to rise, and in the midst of it, I saw a tall man in a tweed suit leap into the water and disappear beneath the surface. In an instant, the darkness faded, and I was once again aware of the warmth of the sun. Though the sensation of unease lingered, I shook it off. This happened on June 25, and just a week later, on July 3, a Mr. ——, a bank clerk, tragically took his own life by drowning in that very lake.”

To this day, Lough Muckno is said to be haunted by the restless spirit of the banker.