The Lively Ghosts of Ireland

by Hans Holzer

Ghost hunter Hans Holzer roams Ireland's castles and hotels and meets some of the most interesting characters of all time. In these mysterious tales you'll read about ghosts like the whip-yielding princess that haunted her sister, the young child wanting to snuggle in bed, and the swordsman defending his treasure. Even if you don't believe in ghosts you will captivated by these intriguing investigations.

Read about the ghosts Holzer meets in America in More True Ghost Stories.

Genres: Nonfiction, Ireland, Ghosts, Paranormal, Ghost Stories

182 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Hans Holzer, whose investigations into the paranormal took him to haunted houses and other sites all over the world, wrote more than 140 books on ghosts, the afterlife, witchcraft, extraterrestrial beings, and other phenomena associated with the realm he called “the other side.” Among his famous subjects was the Long Island house that inspired The Amityville Horror book and film adaptations. Holzer studied at the University of Vienna, Austria, and at Columbia University, New York, earning a master’s degree in comparative religion. He taught parapsychology at the New York Institute of Technology. Holzer died in 2009.

Reviews

[Hilary "Fox" · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I did find the book entertaining. As far as paranormal investigations go, however, the book came up lacking.

The book consists of about 18 chapters, each detailing different investigations in Ireland. Some of the chapters involve more than one ghost, or place, but for the most part it's one per chapter. The descriptions of the different locations are wonderful, but as far as actual paranormal contact? I think he relied a bit too much on Sybil Leek, and not enough on his own journalistic prowess.

The book was published in the 60s, however, and it bears the marks of time. While Holzer berates others for not embarking on 'true' paranormal investigation, he relies on his medium for the bulk of each investigation, each time editorializing how she "couldn't know" any of the facts related with the cases - but still talks about them!

The book just seemed fishy, but it was entertaining enough. Wouldn't really recommend it to anyone, though.

[Shawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry - not much of a review, as I read this back in the late 1970s - Holzer churned these things out by the bushel-full - it must have been an interesting life, I'll give him that!

[Tom Schulte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hans Holzer was an Austrian-American author and parapsychologist. He wrote more than 120 books on supernatural and occult subjects for the popular market as well as several plays, musicals, films, and documentaries, and hosted a television show, Ghost Hunter having written a book of the same name published in 1963. His quasi-scientific approach of visiting sites, interviewing witnesses, and researching archives as well as 'spirit photographs' makes me feel he is an intellectual ancestor to the gadget-loving 'ghosthunters' crowding out nonfiction television.

On this jaunt to Ireland, a lot of spectral traces of the troublesome times of the partition of Ireland from a few decades prior are researched. No ghost photographs are reproduced, but there are several detailed site illustrations. The research was done often with the aid of witch and trance medium Sybil Leek. Holzer uses her to gather historical facts and names while in communion with spirits with similar-sounding words to words she supposedly did not know deemed proof. This pairing feels a lot like the Ed and Lorraine Warren duo depicted in the The Conjuring universe.

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it was about the lively GOATS of Ireland and boy, was I surprised! No, just kidding (wacka, wacka, wacka!). This is a dated bit of supernatural slurry from the 1960s that is written in a somewhat sprightly style and includes some tidbits of interesting history and some decent descriptive prose, but the paranormal activity and evidence for it was almost as hokey as the silly TV show Ghost Hunters. I'm heading soon for my third visit to Ireland though, so I will keep my sixth sense sharp and my eyes peeled just in case I have a chance encounter with a restless spirit from beyond the Pale (or even within, since some of the alleged encounters occur in Dublin).

[Jessica Baumgartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea if this was fiction or non-fiction when my sister gave it to me, but I love all genres and enjoyed every page of this. There are a lot of great references, and the fact that Sybil Leek is in it made it a treasure that I won't give up. Each story has something to offer, as well as new destinations I want to add to my list of places travel to.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hans Holzer is one of the biggest names in ghost hunting - and rightly so. This book takes you on their journey through Ireland and their hunt for some of the resident ghosts there. The title can be a little misleading, but as you read through, there really is a lot of great information, and I enjoyed this one immensely!

[Dennis Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've probably had this book for 30 years and the "Date Read" listed is the most recent reading but the material in this book has aged well.

[Nancy Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an older book, a bit dry, but fun to hear about his travels!

[Alexander Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt more like freeform poetry about Ireland than it did a book about ghosts, but it was good enough to keep me reading.

[Kendra Chubbuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading for fun. I'm heading to Ireland June 2nd - June 13th, 2025. So, I picked this book up at a consignment shop for $2.00. It looks like a fun read. I'm staying in Dublin and doing a walking spiritual journey, and I might be seeing one or two of the places I will be reading about in this book.

[The Lady Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I was expecting the author to be a little more ghost-huntery and a little less TV-show-hosty. This was written in the 60s so I realize there are some stylistic differences, but this "ghost hunter" really just randomly drives around Ireland with a medium, then reassures us every chapter that "of course she didn't know any of this beforehand," and when she does interact with the entities (which will always be the most fascinating part for me), it gets kind of hand-wavey.

"I'm definitely getting the name White."
"Well, it was Whitney, but close enough!"
And so many chapters end with !!!!!!

A little annoying, mostly Irish history and names, too little actual ghost stuff for me.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this book overall, but for me it wasn't as thrilling as some of the books I've read regarding paranormal investigations. Most of the hauntings were described with witness reports and impressions received by Sybil Leek.

Sybil was accurate at times, and there were several photographs taken by Hans Holzer which were said to be astonishing, but I would have preferred that the evidence accumulated be a little more scientific in nature and the photographs be included in the book.

must be the skeptic in me.

[Maggie · Rating 1 out of 5]

A rather silly book, written in the 1960's. It reminds me of the old so-called 'psychics' who used to appear on TV searching valiantly for any possible connection with anyone in the audience eg "I have a Jim....Jim?...Tim?.....Tom?.....Trevor?....Is there a man in the audience?" The book concerns the travels of an American ghost hunter, his wife and their psychic friend who visit parts of Ireland looking for ghosts. In my opinion they found none. They consider it a success.

Don't bother.

[Rebekkila · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't even make it half way through this book. The author has a psychic traveling with him and she seems a bit fraudulent. I could have come up with the same conclusions that she did at the sites of the hauntings. The author is a bit full of himself and I did find some humor in that. I was very dissappointed with this book.

[L · Rating 2 out of 5]

Travelogue from 1960s ghost hunters. Each chapter is one setting/region in Ireland. Within the chapter, the narrative is very disjointed and superficial. Would not recommend, nor do I intend to find any more from this author.