The Ghost of Maud at Dobbins Inn

According to Carrickfergus folklore, Elizabeth Dobyn — often remembered as Maud — was the wife of a member of the Dobbin family who lived in the historic building now known as Dobbins Inn.

The story tells that Maud fell in love with a soldier stationed at nearby Carrickfergus Castle. Some versions say the soldier was known by the nickname Buttoncap, although this may have become mixed with a separate Carrickfergus ghost story over time.

The lovers are said to have met secretly, with later retellings claiming they used a concealed passage near the large stone fireplace to meet away from Maud’s husband.

When the affair was discovered, the legend says Maud’s husband killed her and then went after the soldier, who was also killed. Versions of the story differ on the exact details, including the identities involved and when the events supposedly happened.

Maud’s spirit is said to have remained in the building ever since. Guests and staff have reported seeing a female figure moving through the reception area towards the old fireplace, while one of the best-known parts of the legend describes sleeping guests feeling an unseen hand gently stroke their face.

Whether these experiences have a supernatural explanation or are simply part of the folklore surrounding one of Carrickfergus’s oldest buildings, the story of Maud has become inseparable from the history and atmosphere of Dobbins Inn.