Paranormal Lockdown In LOFTUS HALL

If you're a regular reader of my blog you'll know that the unknown amazes me, in particular the spiritual realm and after visiting Loftus Hall back in October I knew it's a place where I wanted to return. I first went there for the adult Halloween tour and it was one the best/weirdest experiences of my life and if you want to check that out and get a little bit of a history lesson you can do so here. But this time it was going to be very different, it wasn't going to just be an hour or two with dressed up characters no, this time it was going to be serious with a real investigation led by Paranormal Researchers Ireland a night where we would be connecting with spirits whilst delving into another world and I couldn't wait to begin. That being said I was absolutely sure I was about to have a heart attack ... no joke!! 

I've decided to take you through my night as it happened, from the smells to the feelings it was something I've never experienced before so sit back, relax and have an open mind...it's a long one!!

It all kicked off last night Saturday 26th November at 8:30pm in the one and only Loftus Hall on The Hook

Peninsula and it was going to last until about 3.30am.When I think of 3.30am on a Saturday night it's unusual for me not to be heading home from the disco but believe me there's no disco that'll beat Loftus Hall.
 After we arrived we were met by the Paranormal researchers and made sign forms, I'm not trying to be funny but I saw the word death and I was gone. What was I thinking, why did I trust Vera Crellin?, Why was I back in Loftus Hall but I signed the forms and on I went. After downing my first of thirty cups of tea we were met by the owner Aidan Quigley who brought us on a guided lighted tour of the house. I'd seen Aidan on the episode of Ghost Adventures  where they went to Loftus Hall and I always thought he came across so well and a real genuine man, well in real life he's a million times nicer. The passion he has for the Hall and the history surrounding it was amazing and made you really open your eyes and mind to what you're about to witness.
On our tour we actually entered through the old main door way which is where the dark stranger (the devil) would have entered through on the night in question and it's there where the weirdness began. One member of my group then asked 'what's that smell, like sulphur' before we were moved on quite quickly. I didn't know what it meant to smell sulphur but later on during the night I quickly learned that when you smell that it's not a good sign, meaning bad and demonic energy.
 After the tour and the minor heart attack we were divided into groups of six and it was time for the lockdown to begin.

When I went on the Halloween tour the one room that really got to me was the tapestry room, if you know the legend of Loftus Hall then you'll know that this was the room where Lady Anne Tottenham was locked into and where she went insane, it's also the room where her child's remains are buried in the walls so just knowing that story alone you can already imagine the feeling in that room and where does my group get to go first??? Of course to the tapestry room. Our guide Billy talked us through what we were about to do and I never felt so scared in my life, we all spread out around the room and Billy began to call the spirits. Within minutes weird things started to happen, although the room was pitch black I could see shadows, I could feel someone standing in front of me as did Roisin and then I started to get weird tingles in my fingers and other peoples hands got very warm. Vera then experienced a pain in her right side of her chest which got stranger when Billy explained that when Loftus Hall was a hotel Michael had died in this room due to a heart attack. I then felt something very weird, it was as it something was tingling and burning my neck towards my left shoulder. I have a tattoo of the moon on the back of my neck and it's as if someone started at that and moved it's way over to my shoulder. We then heard a humming noise, I thought it was a woman and all of a sudden I felt very, very sad. I don't know what it was but all day I would think of Lady Anne and get sad and that same feeling came back in the room. We then all came together circled the bed, held hands and began to chant 'ring a ring a rosey' which just got weirder and weirder until eventually our hour in the tapestry room had come to an end and it was an hour that I will never, ever forget.

After a short break we swapped over and our next stop was where it all kicked off, the card room where the devil went through the roof and the hole remains. It was on our way to the card room where I could really get a strong smell of sulphur, which was ridiculously freaky as it vanished within a few seconds. We each got a chance to sit down at the table where they played a game of cards that night and the EMF's (electro magnetic fields) machines were going crazy especially when our guide would look away, we could hear footsteps, bangs and just noises that you couldn't explain. Although no one was in the room above of us we could clear as day hear pacing going across and back the floor it was incredible but I did overall feel relatively safe in this room as if there was no fear or danger present, very unusual I know.

Having watched so many videos on Loftus Hall one place I was always going to be fearful to go was upstairs in the house because from what I heard it was just at a different level completely. Tina, the lead investigator of the PRI was just amazing, in fact the whole team are incredible but Tina led us up through the stairs where two nuns fell mysteriously to their death. A cross on the stairs marks where they died and it was just so surreal to think of the thousands of nuns/ servants/ people that walked these stairs it amazed me. When we reached the top there was a glass on the table and we rubbed our hands together to pick up some energy before we placed one finger each lightly on the glass. This was something that always weirded me out, I was terrified but I will admit I wasn't sure if a glass would really move by itself, oh Lordy it did believe you and me. It was probably the weirdest feeling I'd ever felt in my life to know that a spirit was moving this glass just amazed me, it was amazing!!
After the hour was up we said goodbye and thank you and I went down to have my fifty sixth cup of tea.

One of the most beautiful things in Loftus Hall is the main staircase it's just incredibly beautiful and eery I think it's amazing so when our next destination was up the stairs I couldn't contain my excitement even though it did mean we were back upstairs again. As I walked through the halls of the house I began to think about things and it hit me that Lady Anne once walked these halls and it just affected me, I don't understand it but I feel drawn to Lady Anne and thought of her for that whole hour.
 We were brought into a room and this would have been particularly active with the nuns so a women was put in the centre of the circle with a pack of tarot cards which would not have been liked. The woman felt pressure on her back, I had experienced back pain since the very first hour back in the tapestry room so it really was unusual but overall there wasn't much activity there but unbelievable all the same, I just thought of Lady Anne the whole time.

As 2am approached we knew we had one room left and that was the morning room, now this room I did not like. When we went on the Halloween tour this was a room I felt uneasy in and I remember wanting to get out as quick as I could the same when Aidan brought us around for the tour in the beginning I did not like this room and I did not want to be in it, now this was a room I didn't feel safe in. Our investor for this room was Chris and let me tell you Chris is a brave man. Aidan had told us many of the objects in this room were cursed and when I walked in and saw a doll lying on the floor I just wanted the floor to swallow me up. The temperatures were dropping continuously and the room just kept getting darker and darker so we all sat on the floor which the spirit seemed to like as the EMF started to continuously beep non stop. I got to the stage where I just wanted to leave the room but sat there feeling very unwelcome and very much on edge there until the hour was up and it was time to head home.

I was so sad when I realised it was time to head home, I didn't want to leave. I have such a passion and love for Loftus Hall that I just genuinely cannot explain it. We removed the white light from ourselves and signed out ready to leave down the avenue.
<-- That was my face when time was done..no joke I did not want to leave.

But there you have it, my Saturday night spent in Loftus Hall. I don't think I could recommend Loftus enough to people, it's one of those experiences that are priceless. It's a place that you'll automatically fall in love with and take a pride about but that being said it's scary lads, it's scary!!
 I thought I had one of the best nights of my life on the Halloween tour but this just takes the biscuit! I think for anyone interested in paranormal this is the place for you.
 The staff are absolutely lovely, you can ask them anything and they will help you. The Paranormal team are incredible, they're gifted brave people who made my very first lockdown so special and Aidan is an amazing man overall, it's without a doubt one of the most special places and will always hold a place in my heart.

Loftus Hall....You Amaze Me!!

The Dumbest Things I've Ever Done - Work Edition

First and foremost I'd like to put it out there that I'm generally not a dumb person, however occasionally there are times where I might say/think/do dumb and downright stupid things, I mean who doesn't but there have been some things that literally make me want to hang my head in shame especially when it comes to stupid moments in the workplace. 

Seeing as though I'm off work today and all I have planned is to shower, clean and a visit to Costa I decided to sit down and write a little post on the times I have been the scarecrow with no brains in work and I don't even think saying I'm blond will get me out of these ones!! 

What a dunce!! 

The ZipYard 

There was a time not so long ago when I decided I wanted a new job so searched high and low looking for the perfect one. I'd just left college and didn't know what to do with myself so being honest I pretty much applied to everything. 

I used all the websites, indeed, Tipperary jobs on facebook and one day I came across an advertisement for the Zip Yard in Clonmel. 

My first thought was 'Oh My God, they have a zip yard I can't believe it' literally working somewhere like that would be a dream come true imagine the fun.

So I began my cover letter, the usual:

'To whom it concerns, I recently came across your advertisement blah blah'

and then proceeded to go on about how I would love to work in such a fun environment, how I'm great with kids and my biggest selling point was how I can keep people calm in nerve wrecking situations which would benefit my hugely in this job yano seeing as though people are zip wiring through the forest.

Well anyway, weeks passed and I heard nothing back from the zip yard, I was disgusted, how dare they I would have been the perfect person for the job, but one day as I drove through Clonmel I noticed a shop I'd never noticed before. A shop called 'The Zip Yard' that wasn't actually a 'zip wire yard' but a place to sew and stick buttons onto things and well basically you don't have to be good with kids, be able to keep calm in a situation or be any bit fun as long as you can sew. Needless to say I still haven't gotten a response.  

Oasis

This story happened not so long ago and I was in the second week of a new job so as imagined I was trying to do my best with my new surroundings. Dealing with people in itself can be daunting but when you have to help a customer and you think they've lost their minds well that's a completely different kettle of fish.

 It was a Monday morning in work when a woman came up to me and asked 'Sorry do ye have Oasis here, I know you did before' Oasis???!!!! Had she lost her mind, baring in mind I worked in the furniture department of a store why would Oasis be here?!! Madness so I replied 'Jesus no sorry, they're broken up with years I don't see any sign of them getting back together. We have Roz Purcell coming on the 18th but I honestly don't think Oasis have ever been here. I knew by her blank expression something wasn't right so I explained to her that I'll go check with a colleague. Well, long story short Oasis is dry foam that you put fake flowers into....

The Car With No Doors

Not so long ago I was doing some work with one of my favourite Irish companies, I couldn't believe my luck literally it was the dream role and I was working alongside two people I genuinely admired so much so really didn't want to balls anything up or embarrass myself...

 One day when that challenge to flip a bottle upside down was doing the rounds we were all asked to attempt it for the companies Snapchat account. I came the closest but when I bent down to pick up the bottle what happened?? My jeans split, right down the middle. 

No one noticed really so I just thought say nothing, It'll be grand just try squish up your legs to cover the hole anyway today was a little different as we had to go out and about meeting people in Clonmel. I first of all almost died because I had a big gash in my jeans (if only I got that job in the Zip Yard) but now we had to meet people. Horror. 

So as I proceeded to get into the company car I realised it was three door, there was no back doors so I'd have to hop in the back and push the chair forward like you do with car that has no back doors. I opened the door and started pulling and pushing the chair trying to get it to move which lasted for about 5 minutes. I was told that 'It's fine she has small legs you don't need to move the chair' but I didn't understand. What was I going to do? Jump over the chair?? squeeze in the side, well this lasted a further 5 minutes before I admitted defeat and asked for help. Oh and did you know Renault Clio's like to be sneaky and hide the back door  handles ...well you do now there's 5 doors not 3 and the shame still lies with me. 

How much is Santa?

One of my favourite things about my current job is I get to deal with the public face to face everyday and this of course encourages chatting and as we all know I love chatting. My last story of the day basically shows you how much of a eejit I can be and literally there's nothing I can even say to defend myself.

 Where I work Christmas is a big deal, basically if you don't like Christmas it's your hell but one day I got chatting to an elderly couple about Christmas and Santa etc. I told them how our Santa Land was opening very soon and how excited I was.

 'How much is he?' asked the man. What did he mean??? Well this got me thinking, Santa...how much is Santa? I started to take everything into consideration. Well like he's one of the most famous men in the world, and he has a lot of wealth obviously with his land in the North Pole and on top of that he's the most in demand man in the world? 

'Jesus he's net worth is it??? God I'd say about a few million easily' Turns out it's €10 and €7.50 for pictures in Santa Land.

And that's four of my most dumbest moments so far, I could of course mention a million more especially from working in the call centre, but that in itself is one of the dumbest things I've ever done. So to recap, when a customer asks for Oasis it's flowers they want, when someone asks about the price of Santa it's usually how much he is 'the Zip yard' fixes zips and Renault Clio's have five doors.

 Life tips from Lynda.

The Christmas Tractors 2016 - Bigger! Better! Brighter!

Credit: Patrick Lyons Photography 

For most people Christmas begins when Costa release their Christmas menu, or when John Lewis tries to make everyone cry but for me, Christmas begins with the Christmas tractors of Carrick On Suir and when I woke up this morning to see they had set a date for this year, well...well what can I say?!?!

It's CHRISTMASSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

Now I don't know how long this new and improved love for Christmas Lynda will last considering I work in what can only be described as Winter Wonderland but as of now thanks to Stuart John Downie and the fellow tractor boys I cannot wait for this year.

For those of you who may not know what happens here in the little town of Carrick On Suir every year then you're missing out big time, but incase you don't they are a parade of tractors which go through the town in December each year, but these aren't normal tractors, No! These are the most done up, extravagant, Christmassy tractors known to man, and it's unreal. Last year we even had the little 'Fear The Deer' himself Michael Hayden as a guest and it's one of the biggest events in the town bringing everyone together and making the town stand in pride. 

Last year founder Stuart John Downie told me:

”I came up with the idea from friends telling me that they went to see the Coca Cola truck and were queueing for ages to see it. I figured why not deck out the tractor for the laugh and trundle down the Main street. I roped in a few of my friends and the whole thing took off.We had people from as far away as Athy and Limerick looking to bring tractors down and join in.

We funded the entire event ourselves, we each spent over 100 euro and we all took our tractors away from work by 1 pm that day. The local traders and COSBA(Carrick On Suir Business Association)  were a huge help for us. Glanbia in Carrick Beg gave us the use of their grain store for the evening to decorate the tractors away from the damp weather and prying eyes and COSBA funded the insurance of the car park. The gardai then jumped on board and we were up and running”

And that was that, the Christmas Tractors are back on the 10th of December and I am buzzing!! To find out more head over to the facebook page.

Looking forward to seeing you all there :)

What Makes Me Happy - The Fupin Eejits

There's so many things in life that makes me happy for example payday, 3 for 10 on vodkas and Mursher but if there's one thing I love more than anything it's having a laugh, to be fair I'm the type of person who can make myself laugh for hours because as we all know I'm hilarious but there's one thing, well 3 things, 3 men I suppose you'd say that make me laugh more than anything and they are The Fupin Eejits!
 If you haven't heard of the fupin eejits then you literally must live under a rock because they're the greatest thing to have come out of Tipperary (apart from myself and Bulmers obviously) with their vines and videos. The very first video I ever saw from these lads is one I've shared thousands of times already but it's my favourite vine ever made and it's the 'are those helium balloons' I swear to God I never laughed as much when I saw it, I won't even mention my 21st birthday when we had to drive home with a car full of balloons it's just comedy gold.
From vine the lads went onto make short videos and they're the best thing since slice bread I'm not even joking, I'm so critical when it comes to vines and people making 'funny videos' half the time when I watch a funny video and just get pissed off at the lack of funniness but I'm yet to watch a fuppin eejit video and not genuinely LOL ...and I hate the word LOL but it happens I actually do ....LOL!!!
 The most recent video which I genuinely almost wet myself watching was one my favourite eejit Eddie Whelan did on his Halloween and it's actually just hilarious you have to watch it!!

Speaking of Eddie, would you believe me if I said I actually met him there in Clonmel just before Halloween I kid you not.
 I got dragged up to buy contact lenses with the girls and as we were walking into the costume shop who's walking out only Eddie flipping Whelan, well I never!! Probably the best moment of 2016 by far and I couldn't even speak...life ey!!

No matter what I'm feeling, whether I'm actually happy out and fancy a laugh or feeling down I know within 6 seconds the lads will have brightened up my day and that's all you can ask for!! They're three of the biggest legends in the county and that's all there is to it, hon the fupin eejiots!!
What do they say, 'a day without laughter is a day wasted' well not with the fupin eejits!!
You can follow their Youtube Channel or Facebook page and watch all the videos as they go up :)

SoberTober

We all know the stereotypes surrounding Irish people and their drink, we love it there's no bones about it so when someone tells you they're off the drink it's usually for one of the following reasons: 

1. They're on antibiotics or...

2. They're pregnant

so when myself and two friends decided to go off the drink for the month of October I don't think anyone, not even my mother believed I would stick it out...and in fairness I didn't even think I would myself.

I love the drink, I don't mean I love the drink as in I'm a big alco love the drink but I do love an occasional glass of prosecco, or moscato wine, or vodka, or Malibu oh and I do love an old can of bulmers from time to time, basically I enjoy an alcoholic beverage and yano what I'm not afraid to say it I love the sesh so when people started tagging me in posts on Facebook about going dry for October as a joke I decided yano what, let's go do one of my favourite hobbies....prove people wrong!!  

 The two girls Roisín and Annmarie got on board and with Halloween being a few days before the end of October we decided we'd start a week early so we were lasting the whole month and no one could say anything about not lasting the four weeks...like HA! We lasted 5!! Almost 6!!!! The holy horror!! 

3 Sober Amigos -Crellin Me and Annmarie.

Long story short, the night it began Annmarie was out of the running and to be honest it was fairly touch and go with myself, week one was awful but then week 2 happened and I realised this was going to be a lot harder than I expected. 'You coming out tonight, all drinks are only €3' that message broke my heart and I only received it sixty odd times but as I realised there was only one week left and I'd completed SoberTober I couldn't have been prouder.

 People say when you give up drink you feel much more refreshed and energised, well I felt tireder than ever before I was aggravated because I couldn't go out and I was more broke than I'd ever been before the hype around being sober was shit craic but I have to admit waking up on a Sunday walking the dog with a clear head was fantastic, and I realised I actually didn't mind being sober as much as I thought I would. I wouldn't go as far as saying I enjoyed it by any stretch of the imagination but it definitely wasn't the worst thing and would I do it again???? Absolutely!!

 Best thing about being sober!!?? - HAAAAAA I proved people wrong!!!!