Mount Anville House dates to the eighteenth century. In 1853, it was acquired by William Dargan, an engineer who oversaw construction of Ireland’s first railway routes. In 1865, the property was sold to an order of nuns – a decision that was neither supported nor embraced by William’s wife, Jane. It is said that she refused to leave her room and even threw objects at house staff when they went to pack her belongings. Nevertheless, the transaction was completed and she eventually agreed to leave her cherished home.

Several years later, and the former bedrooms of the great house were now dormitories providing accommodation to boarders at the school. According to one tale, a group of friends decided to play hide and seek one night. A girl was alone in one of the rooms and was counting to ten, when she reportedly felt that there was someone there with her. When she opened her eyes, she saw the spectre of a woman standing in front of her – and she looked angry! Her eyes were bulging with rage and she was shaking her fist at the frightened youngster. Needless to say, the young girl ran out of the room pretty quickly.