This is the month for all things ghostly and Ed Mooney is having his Spooktacular challenge for Samhain and Hallow’s Eve. I will be searching my archives or taking a John Adams Ghost Tour through Victoria in the hopes of coming up with more sites and events suitable. In the meantime I’m gearing up with images from Muckross Abbey in County Kerry.
I did not get a sense of anything wicked lurking in the halls of the old Abbey though it had a violent history through the centuries of raids and Cromwellian persecution. It had been built by the gentle Franciscan order and when my footsteps 
echoed in the upper rooms, I of course wondered if I was alone. How many footsteps had walked these galleries and might still be walking in the moonlight? At one point I couldn’t help myself! A vision of my old Catholic choir master appeared and as there were very few visitors that day (and hoping no one would think me too mad), I gave myself over. In the vaulted tower that was once alive with the sound of chants and hymns, of matins, vespers and compline, my intonations followed those begun centuries ago, drifting in a silent wave on their journey toward the seraphim.
My Kyrie eleison ( very humbly recorded at the abbey)
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the song room
Muckross Abbey, Ireland
However, it’s a different story in the cemetery itself. There is a tale of a malevolent being called the “Brown Man” who according to witnesses was seen in the night at a freshly dug grave feeding on a corpse. The area is still claimed to be haunted.
so with the words of Neil Gaimon
“Be hole, be dust, be dream, be wind
Be night, be dark, be wish, be mind,
Now slip, now slide, now move unseen,
Above, beneath, betwixt, between.
the runes of the gatekeeper's daughter- dedicated to Nick 
They all look wonderfully spooky to me, Cybele! 👻😀 I’m eager to listen to your Kyrie, but will have to come back for it – I’m on a bus to New York City and don’t have my earbuds with me. Darn!
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oh it’s a tad spooky sounding!! Thanks so much Stacy!!
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Those photos do have an eerie feel. I find certain cemeteries spooky,even in broad daylight so I tend to avoid them 🙂
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I know! but I rather like ghost stories and things gothic lol!!!
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Excellent gallery of photographs… I also found that those words by Neil Gaimon are really eloquent and certinaly get along with the ghostly shots…
Thank you, dear Cybele… All the best to you!, Aquileana 😀
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I like Gaimon’s poem!! thanks again my friend!
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Just my kind of photos Cybele, gorgeously spooky 🙂
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a kindred soul!! 🙂
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That poem!
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isn’t it wonderful Peter! I do like Neil Gaimon!
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Whatever possessed you was good. 🙂 Wonderfully done!
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indeed! Thank Maverick!
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Wonderful atmosphere drenched shots. I’ll be in Kerry in a couple of weeks so this has whetted the appetite for its many charms! Regards Thom.
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oh you won’t be disappointed! Thanks Thom!!
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What luck! We’re in Sneem tonight and heading to Killarney tomorrow – the abbey will be on our list. Your shots look particularly enchanting!
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we love visiting County Kerry though the family connection is Galway( also beautiful). How’s the weather? Enjoy!!! I have many shots some on WordPress of Muckross and the park!!
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21 days in and I haven’t had a chance to wear my new rain pants yet although everyone assures me I will!
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🙂 it’s unpredictable!
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You do ghostly very well, Cybele. I looked at this post yesterday and then just as I was about to listen to the Kyrie Eleison, it mysteriously vanished like a ghost. Glad I found you again when you commented on my bench post. 🙂
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lol!! ooooo( spooky sound effects) Thanks Sylvia!!
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The cemetery is a spooky place for some and home to some. 🙂 I liked the doorway where the light is golden in colour. The first one, of course, shows the grand wall.
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many thanks Norma!
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Beautiful pictures with their spooky atmospheres… Learning about the history behind them makes us look at them a bit differently, right?
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it does! Thanks so much Anita- more ghosts to come!!
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I can tell we’re getting closer to All Hallow’s Eve! Great photos. Love your chant. It made me thing of the book I just finished reading (The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny) about a hidden monastery in Quebec! 😀
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sometimes I like the darkside!! lol in story anyway!!
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and thank you so much Linda!!
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History meets religion ritualistically,dear Cybele! “Divine Mystery”,compelling atmosphere created by your narrative and the old Abbey photos!The cemetery photo and the Angel above wrote another story … I join your prayer in awe and recapitulate ~ Κύριε, ἐλέησον … ~
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oh thank you Doda!! I still feel that reverence in those holy places!! yes! I’m so glad to have someone else know that and join in the hymn !!
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Spooky, but very cool and creative! the last one is beautiful. 🙂
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pleased you like it!! thanks Amy 🙂
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Your finishing work is always…….
Simply beautiful
As always Sheldon
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thank you always Sheldon!
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Yes, as usual, your posts are grand & magically inspiring…Bless you!!!!!!
xo DG
>
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many thanks dear DG!!
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Each image provokes my imagination, and I like moodiness of them.
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thanks Sally!! I enjoy the darkside lol!
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You always do spooky images so well! I look forwArd to your submission. Hope you are feeling better!
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better thanks Laura!
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Oh good. 🙂
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Spooky and beautiful
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glad you like it!! 🙂
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WOW, im stunned Cybele, Beautifully shot, portraying a haunted atmosphere. I love how each image is so different and yet they fit in well together like the pages of a story. Cant wait to get down there myself, and see what is lurking in the shadows 🙂
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thrilled that you like it!! I was lucky in that there were only a few people visiting at that time ( early morn and then late afternoon) – thus I let go and sang lol. You probably know by now that I’m fond of multi media posts!!
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LOL thats so cool, some really good tunes out there 🙂
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🙂
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PS yes if you go you must research more of the history there!!
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Already on it, the brown man has me intruiged 🙂
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yayyy- I’d love to know more!
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Bootiful! 🙂 I enjoyed your Kyrie, and I’m looking forward to more Spooktacular images and thoughts from you this month.
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thanks so much Deborah – I hope I can keep it up!! I’m still very fond of the old chants and eclesiastic music! But it has to be old!! lol
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