Dark Dublin Guided Walking Tour: Unearthing Gruesome Stories and the Brutal Past

Unearth Dublin’s gruesome stories of murder, torture, cannibalism, and more on this 2-hour guided walking tour. Explore the city’s dark past and discover the secrets hidden behind its beautiful architecture.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Dublin Castle - Our guides will spend some time in the Lower Courtyard of Dublin Castle exploring the tortures of the past.

next, the Tour Guide will venture to the Upper Courtyard of the Castle and talk about the Devil’s Half Acre

*Tour does not enter Dublin Castle

  • The 40 Steps - The Tour Guide will explore stories of cannibalism.

  • Saint Patrick’s Cathedral - The guide will take you into the grounds of St Patrick’s Cathedral and uncover the history of Jonathan Swift.

*Tour does not enter St Patrick’s Church

  • Christ Church Cathedral - The guide will cover the stories of the hidden history behind the extraordinary church.

*Tour does not enter Christ Church

  • St. Audoen’s Church - The Tour Guide will unearth the dark past of grave robbings and the attacks from The Black Pig

*Tour does not enter St Audoen’s Church

  • St. Michan’s Church - The Tour Guide will dive into the brutal history of Billy in the Bowl and more recent dark events

*Tour does not enter St Michan’s Church

  • Smithfield Square - Our guide will finish in Smithfield Square with an incredible finishing story of a local murderer.

*End point is a Public Square

What's Included
  • Eco-friendly tour practices ensure sustainability.
  • Enjoy the intimacy of small group experiences.
  • Benefit from the knowledge of an in-person guide.
What's Not Included
  • Private transportation
  • Dinner
Additional Information

Join us as we unearth Dublin’s terrifying tales of homicide, extreme punishment, man-eating, grave pilfering, houses of ill-repute, suggestions of child consumption, mysterious rituals, and much more! Our adventure begins at Dublin Castle where we will delve into its savage history, discuss ecclesiastical persecutors and reveal why the main courtyard was ironically dubbed the Devil’s Half Acre. Despite its stunning architectural facade, the castle has a barbarous history. We’ll then meander down the alleyways to discover tales of flesh-eating and shocking proposals of infant feasting. As we venture deeper into Dublin’s sinister history, we enter a region once ominously called Hell, where stories of brothels, sorceresses, and the notorious Hellfire Club lie in wait. As we stroll past the ancient city fortifications, we’ll come across tales of grave theft, the ominous Black Pig and conclude with the peculiar case of a legless asphyxiator and murderer. Embark on this 2-hour walking expedition through city roads and hidden lanes as we unravel the dark underbelly of Dublin.

Location
Barnardo Square
Barnardo Square is the small square next to Dublin City Hall on DAME STREET DUBLIN 2.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(1774 Ratings)
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Kvh410
Sep 30, 2024
Great tour! - This was our last tour of our vacation. Couldn't imagine a better choice. Michayla (spelling is probaby wrong) was an excellent guide telling the more gruesome stories of Dublin.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Richard_m
Sep 30, 2024
Dark Dublin - Makala was very engaging and knowledgeable. She mixed both historical events and legends into the tour to bring it to life. I enjoyed the tour and recommend it to everyone.
Review provided by Viator
Carrie_c
Sep 30, 2024
Great experience! - She was a very knowledgeable tour guide! We learned so much about the dark history of Dublin and loved the tour as a whole, would definitely recommend to anybody who loves spooky and historical stories.
Review provided by Viator
Camper32265859100
Sep 28, 2024
Gritty Tour of Dublin’s Dark History (Plus Ghost Stories) - Fun host, interesting history, and beautiful locations throughout the city. As an added bonus, we got some local ghost stories too. Great way to spend an evening in Dublin!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brucejc4623pi
Sep 27, 2024
Funnest tour I’ve ever done! - This is not a tour for the faint hearted. Killian (aka Silken Beard II) has a great delivery and knows his material. Excellent!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kelly_p
Sep 23, 2024
Great tour for those who love dark history - McKayla was excellent! So informative and knew so much about the locations we visited. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone into the darker side of history.
Review provided by Viator
Christina_n
Sep 23, 2024
Killian - good story teller - Killian is a great story teller, engaging, devilishly handsome and provides good recommendations. We enjoyed the stories.
Review provided by Viator
Magdalenape1192yr
Sep 23, 2024
Amazing - Tara (i hope i wrote it correctly) was amazing! She told us so much about the history of the city and also showed us some great places to eat. It was truly an awesome experience and I can absolutly recommend it to anyone
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jillian_t
Sep 22, 2024
Excellent Tour - Killian was a great guide, his story telling was excellent and he brought humanity to each tale he told. Would definitely recommend while you are in Dublin.
Review provided by Viator
Sue_b
Sep 26, 2024
Wet and windy, we couldn’t finish it - Since rain is part of everyday life in Ireland we knew it was a possibility for our tour. The day we went however, it was 50 degrees, windy and medium-heavy rain. We quit after the first story from our guide Killian. Even though he did his best to find a dry spot under cover, it was not enjoyable and vacation time is precious so we ended it at that point. It never rains in the pubs! The tour company for Dark Dublin will only cancel a tour for ice or snow so my recommendation is don’t book this one in advance but wait until the day you want to go, check the weather conditions and proceed accordingly.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 14 guests
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October 2024
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