Season 09 Episode 34: Nine Lives (The Haunting of Killakee House)
Summary
Host Richard McLean Smith explores the multifaceted symbolism of the black cat, ranging from ancient Egyptian reverence to its association with the Irish Hellfire Club. The episode details the haunting of the Old Steward’s House in Killakey, where Margaret O’Brien’s art center was plagued by a poltergeist and a large, demonic feline linked to the 18th-century club’s alleged satanic rituals. The narrative culminates in the discovery of a human skeleton beneath the floor, which reportedly ended the disturbances, while the host contextualizes the Hellfire Club’s reputation within the broader h…
Topics discussed
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Show Intro and Upcoming Events
The Many Faces of the Black Cat
Margaret O'Brien and the Old Steward's House
First Encounters with the Giant Black Cat
The Legend of the Hellfire Club Priest
The Priest's Escape and the Cat's Transformation
Hellfire Club History and the Burning of the Lodge
Hauntings at the Art Center: Tom McCarthy's Experience
Exorcism and the Ouija Board Session
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Escalating Poltergeist Activity and Discovery of Skeleton
Cessation of Hauntings and Remaining Ghosts
Historical Context: The Irish Hellfire Club and Colonialism
Conclusion: The Black Cat's Many Faces
Outro and Final Sponsors
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