ALL at Ballyseede Castle Hotel are in mourning today as they announced the passing of the much loved ‘Mr Higgins’, the resident Irish Wolfhound at the hotel.

Mr Higgins died last night, surrounded by his family of 10 years, and under the expert care of Eugene McGrath from McGrath Vets in Tralee.

A touching tribute has been issued by the hotel today. It reads; “Mr Higgins arrived at Ballyseede Castle on November 11, 2011, the same day President Michael D Higgins was inaugurated into office and was so called Mr Higgins in his honour.

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Since his first day at Ballyseede Castle, he claimed the title as king of Ballyseede Castle.  He quickly began building loving relationships with all those who met him, whether it be a wedding couple, guests staying at the castle or any member of our team who was willing to slip him some food.

In his spare time, Mr Higgins loved to roam Ballyseedy Woods, play with his friends and run at you, giving big hugs.

Mr Higgins was a dog that legends are made of. He will be greatly missed by many, but none more so than his family here at Ballyseede Castle. We loved him with all our hearts, and though the pain we feel without him is great, it in no way would compare to having never had him in our lives.

In keeping with the Blennerhassett Family tradition, Mr Higgins will be wrapped in the castles’ best blanket and buried tomorrow in the castle family pet cemetery, alongside his father Arthur.

The Castle gates will close at 6pm with the flags flying half-mast as we toast Mr Higgins’ 10 wonderful years at Ballyseede Castle with a Gin & Tonic.

Mr Higgins leaves behind a daughter Molly who resides in Ballyseede Castle, fellow dog companions Einstein, Bubbles and Hope, his 3 Donkey and Shetland Pony friends, first cousins, Ri and Liadán in Bellingham Castle, Oscar and Claddagh in Cabra Castle and Róisín in Markree Castle. He is predeceased by his Father Arthur; Mother Sibéal; and Uncle Oscar IV.

Ard dheis de go raibh a anam #RIPMHIGGINS”

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BALLYSEEDE Castle Hotel has been named one of the Top 10 Haunted Hotels in the world according to Tripadvisor, just in time for Halloween.

The hotel is even to be featured on Sky television in the coming months in relation to its spooky history. But don’t worry, they’re friendly ghosts.

The current building, which dates from 1721, has been the scene of many strange occurrences according to Rory O’Sullivan of Ballyseede Castle Hotel, who spoke to Deirdre Walsh on her Talkabout programme on Radio Kerry on Friday.

“The history goes back to the Earl of Desmond’s time when his head was chopped off in the grounds of Ballyseede Castle and taken to London Bridge as a warning to those who misbehaved in the time of Henry VIII,” said Rory.

“People still come to Ballyseede to experience the paranormal and the unusual, but I can assure everyone that they are all friendly ghosts,” he said.

The hotel even does nightly tours of the castle for guests, with barman, Tim, explaining the spooky side to the history.

Six months ago, a film crew stayed at the hotel for two nights and did a paranormal programme featuring local people and guests which, said Rory, will probably be broadcast in December.

Rory has never seen a ghost, but one occasion, when the Castle was empty but for he and his wife Marnie staying in one of the hotel rooms,  something unusual happened.

They heard voices at the top of stairs, followed by the sound of people running down those stairs. When Rory ventured out, there was no-one there, the doors were locked and there was no sign of a break-in.

One of the last of Blennerhassetts (who were long-time residents of the building), Hilda, who died in the 1960s, is said to be the hotel’s most regular sighting.

Rory told the Talkabout programme that some guests have seen a woman bearing her description, with one person picking her out of a photograph and insisting she saw her in the hotel.

Chilling stuff, but like Rory said, they’re harmless ghosts.