Five spooky Kilkenny ghost stories

Written by Edward Lawless, James' Green, Kilkenny:

"I heard the following story about Halloween night being told at home...

One Halloween night a man named Dunne of James' Green was coming home from his brother's house. It was about twelve o'clock. On his way home he had to pass by the Black Abbey Church. Suddenly he heard some noise inside and he stopped and listened. An old woman with a shawl came out of the Church and asked him who he was and where was he going at that hour of the night. With the fright that Mr. Dunne got he turned on his heel and he ran home as quickly as his feet could carry him. When he reached his own house he opened the door and who was behind the door but the same old woman. When he saw the woman he fainted. When he came all right again the old woman was gone so he went in and went to bed. When he got up in the morning he told his wife what had happened the night before. His wife reminded him that the souls in Purgatory are out that night. So he said he would not be out late another Halloween night."