008: Petticoat Loose: The Haunting of Knockmealdowns

Gather round, folklore fiends—this one is a wild ride. This week on Strap Yer Boots, we’re diving into the eerie legend of Petticoat Loose, one of Ireland’s most infamous restless spirits. Was she a wronged woman or a wicked one? A supernatural menace or just a misunderstood soul cursed to wander the Knockmealdown Mountains for eternity?

Join us, Laura & April, as we trace the roots of this chilling tale, from whispered stories of a hard-drinking, sharp-tongued woman accused of murder, to the terrifying accounts of her ghost appearing to lost travelers in the dead of night. We’ll explore how Petticoat Loose became a cautionary figure, doomed to roam the Irish landscape—and why her presence is still felt in the shadow of the Knockmealdowns today.

So, lace up those boots and step carefully… you never know who (or what) might be watching from the mist.

Got a spooky story of your own? Drop us a message on—we love hearing from our fellow folklore fanatics!

References for this episode:

SilentOwl: Petticoat Loose. The Witch of Baylough.

Petticoat Loose | Emerald Isle Irish and Celtic myths, fairy tales and legends 

The Hazel Tree and Hazelnut | Irish folklore from the Emerald Isle

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