America's love affair with the Irish is no secret—but like many great romances, it’s been complicated. For some Irish immigrants, crossing the Atlantic didn’t deliver a dream; it delivered a haunting legacy. Many arrived with hope and left behind spirits that continue to linger on this side of the pond.
Ghost City Tours has collected a few of their stories—and even some of their specters. This St. Patrick’s Day, join us in raising a glass not just to Irish heritage, but to the Irish souls still roaming our cities.
Being the first woman hanged in Georgia is no small footnote—and Alice Riley holds the infamous title. Her story is as tragic as it is ghostly. Arriving in Savannah in 1733 with her common-law husband, Richard White, Alice was among the many Irish immigrants who paid their way across the Atlantic through indentured servitude.
The couple's “employer,” William Wise, was a cruel and sadistic man. Alice was even forced to bathe him, enduring abuses that history only hints at. Eventually, Alice and Richard snapped. They murdered Wise—a crime that would lead them straight to the gallows.
Alice was executed in Wright Square, where many claim her ghost still roams. Her misty figure is often seen drifting through the area, especially on overcast days, forever mourning a life that ended in injustice.
Want to learn more about Alice Riley? Join us this St. Patrick’s Day on our Savannah Ghost Tours.
Born in Ireland in the late 1600s, Anne Bonny was the illegitimate daughter of William Cormac and his housekeeper, Mary Brennan. Her father's affair became a public scandal, prompting the trio to flee to the New World and start anew in Charleston.
Anne’s fiery nature emerged early. After being assaulted by an older boy, she reportedly beat him so badly he was hospitalized. Rumors of her killing a servant girl with a knife only added to her reputation. She eventually married pirate James Bonny and joined the pirate crew of Calico Jack Rackham, where she carved out her legacy as one of the most feared female pirates in history.
Anne died in Charleston in 1782, and while she likely never stepped foot in the Pink House, it’s said her spirit haunts the property—a nod to her legendary life and lingering mystique.
Looking for something fun to do on St. Patrick’s Day? Join our Charleston Ghost Tours.
May and Millie Baily arrived in New Orleans with their Irish father in the mid-1800s. May went on to run what became the city’s first licensed brothel—now the Dauphine Orleans Hotel Bar. Millie, on the other hand, loathed the life she was pulled into.
Her escape came in the form of a Confederate soldier. They fell in love, and he proposed—but fate had other plans. On the day of their wedding, her fiancé was shot and killed. Heartbroken, Millie never recovered. Today, guests at the former May Baily’s Place report sightings of a woman in a wedding dress silently wandering the halls, still mourning what was lost.
Visiting New Orleans this St. Patrick’s Day? Come hear Millie’s story on our New Orleans Ghost Tours.
Though born in America, Richard King’s Irish roots ran deep. As a child, his impoverished family sold him into indentured servitude. But King was a survivor. He escaped, built a steamboat empire, became a blockade runner in the Civil War, and eventually established the legendary King Ranch in Texas—spanning over a million acres.
King was particularly fond of the Menger Hotel in San Antonio. When he was diagnosed with stomach cancer, he insisted on spending his final days in his private suite there. After his death in 1885, hotel staff began reporting sightings of his spirit, most commonly in what’s now called the “King Ranch Suite.”
Want to explore the Menger Hotel for yourself? Join our San Antonio Ghost Tours.
Irish-born philanthropist John McDonogh made his fortune in shipping and real estate, but he was best known for his role in education. Upon his death, he left his vast fortune to fund public schools in both New Orleans and Baltimore. While some praised his generosity, others criticized his treatment of the enslaved people who helped build his wealth.
Today, his spirit is said to haunt New Orleans, particularly near Lafayette Square and the schools that bear his name. Visitors report a solemn man in 19th-century clothing, quietly observing from the shadows. Is he still watching over his legacy—or reckoning with it?
America is full of Irish ghosts, from pirates and pioneers to heartbroken brides and haunted hotel guests. This St. Patrick’s Day, raise a toast to the Irish spirits who still linger, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll feel a chill down your spine as one passes by.
Ready to meet them yourself? Join us for an unforgettable evening on one of our Ghost City Tours in cities across the country. Sláinte!