Following on from the success of the IMRO award-nominated, Halloween-themed drama Chance of a Ghost, written by Dara T Higgins, the RTÉ Kids podcast team is back with a scare this spooky season, only this time, it's for real…Producer Niamh McManus tells us more.
On Chance of a Ghost: Dead Air, 11-year-old Francesca Europa, who previously played the part of Amy, steps into the role of paranormal podcaster but the stakes are considerably higher when you're the one on location doing the ghost hunting yourself. Join Francesca as she goes lifts the lid on some of Ireland’s most haunted locations and asks the all-important question this Halloween – are ghosts real?
Subscribe to the podcast on RTÉ or wherever you get yours!
Our host is an avid horror fan, completely undaunted by things that would scare the living daylights out of most grown-ups, so bear in mind, this series is not for the faint of heart.
So come with us through the tall, creaking doors of some of Ireland's spookiest spots to hear hair-raising ghost stories that’ll having you sleeping with the light on for weeks!
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Episode 1 – Wicklow Gaol
Beyond the Gates to Hell lies one of Ireland's richest cultural locations, Wicklow’s Historic Gaol. With moving stories of the inmates who once inhabited the small, stone cells, this location is a fabulous trip through time, giving a real idea of life behind bars in centuries past.
However, we came to hear about the hauntings and supervisor Colleen Taylor doesn’t disappoint! She recounts some of the famous ghost stories associated with the gaol as well as telling just a few of her own, of which she has many from her years of caring for this very special and very spooky place.
Press play up top to listen to the first show or subscribe here!
Episode 2 – Marsh’s Library
Marsh's Library, Ireland’s first public library, opened its doors in 1707 and since then, has amassed its fair share of tales and legends. It counts Bram Stoker, James Joyce and Jonathan Swift amongst its famous readers and visitors can lose themselves amongst the towering, laddered shelves laden with ancient tomes – pure floor-to-ceiling magic.
Education and Outreach Officer Julie Burke met us at the door for an unforgettable tour of secret floating doors, skulls in cages and of course, the reputedly haunted Gallery 2. Oh, and don’t forget the 3,500-year-old mysterious mummy that popped out of a cupboard one day – true story!
Episode 3 and Episdoe 4 – Ardgillan Castle
So packed with ghost stories we had to give it 2 parts, Ardgillan Castle is an idyllic summer residence by the sea, if you like your holidays haunted. Castle Manager Tom Reilly is a veritable font of ghostly knowledge when it comes to this beautiful castle set on 194 acres of stunning parkland.
From banshees having bad hair days to secret passageways to an actual photo potentially proving life after death, Ardgillan delivers again and again with terrifying tales from the great beyond, not made any more relaxing by Tom's constant jump scares – watch out for those!
Listen to Part 1 of Ardgillan Castle here!
Check out Chance of a Ghost: Dead Air wherever you get your podcasts this Halloween for tales of the bizarre and the unknown – go on, Francesca dares you!
More about Francesca
As well as having acted in Chance of a Ghost, Francesca has a very long and impressive CV both on screen and on stage. She has appeared in films such as My Norwegian Holiday, Royal-ish and RTÉ Kids' A Bedouin Dream to mention just a few and she also played the role of Honor Carney in the award-winning play The Ferryman at the Gaiety Theatre earlier this year. Keep an eye out for her upcoming films, Why Me and The Note.
And for more spooky season fun go to rte.ie/jrpodcasts.
And on TV we have a new Season of The Unreal Sundays on RTÉ One at 5.10pm and streaming here now on RTÉ Player.
