Tales of debauchery and Devil worship in 18th century Dublin

KEEPING on the theme of 18th century rogues, perched atop Montpelier Hill in the Dublin Mountains, the Hellfire Club is one of Ireland’s most famous historic ruins. Overlooking Dublin city, the ruined hunting lodge has become synonymous with tales of devil worship, ghostly apparitions, aristocratic excess and murder. While the ‘grey area’ between fact and folklore has become increasingly greyer over the centuries, the real history of the Hellfire Club (above) is every bit as fascinating as the legends.

The building now known as the Hellfire Club was originally constructed around 1725 by William ‘Speaker’ Conolly—nicknamed as such as he was once the speaker of the Irish House of Commons. He was one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in Ireland. Conolly built the structure as a hunting lodge and named it Mount Pelier.

The site itself already carried an air of mystery. Before the lodge was built, the summit contained an ancient prehistoric passage tomb and cairn. Local tradition holds that stones from this ancient monument were used in the construction of the lodge, a decision that many believed disturbed sacred ground. When part of the roof was reportedly damaged soon after construction, locals claimed it was divine punishment for desecrating the ancient burial site.

These stories laid the foundation for the hill’s supernatural reputation long before the Hellfire Club itself arrived.

Early days

The Irish Hellfire Club was established around 1735 and was founded by a group of wealthy Protestant aristocrats. The leading figure was Richard Parsons, the Earl of Rosse, who is generally regarded as the club’s president. Other founders included the painter and actor James Worsdale.

The club met at Dublin taverns, mainly the Eagle Tavern on Cork Hill beside Dublin Castle. However, the isolated hunting lodge on Montpelier Hill provided a perfect venue for gatherings away from prying eyes, although the frequency of their meetings there is exaggerated.

The members were known for heavy drinking, gambling, blasphemous jokes and behaviour intended to shock respectable society. They embraced the name ‘Hellfire Club’ partly as a satirical rejection of religious convention during the Enlightenment era. Many historians believe they were less interested in Satanism than in mocking religious authority.

Infamous members

Several members became infamous in their own right. One was Henry Barry, whose violent behaviour helped cement the club’s sinister reputation. Barry was eventually convicted of murder after killing a servant in what is the present day Palmerstown House pub and was sentenced to death, however, his powerful aristocratic family owned land that the main water supply of Dublin crossed and they threatened to effectively dam the supply unless he was reprieved. He eventually received a royal pardon

Another colourful member was Simon Luttrell, a notorious rake and gambler whose reputation for scandal followed him throughout Georgian Ireland—he was responsible for the execution of Darkie Kelly from a previous article.

The club also included military officers such as Henry Ponsonby, Richard St George and Clements, all identified in a famous contemporary painting by James Worsdale depicting club members gathered around a table. Richard ‘Burn Chapel’ Whalley was another infamous member, his nickname is self-explanatory

Storied history

The Hellfire Club’s notoriety owes much to the stories that grew around it. Perhaps the most famous tale concerns a mysterious stranger who arrived at the lodge during a storm. While playing cards, one member supposedly dropped a card and bent down to retrieve it. Looking beneath the table, he saw that the stranger possessed cloven hooves instead of feet. At that moment the visitor vanished in a ball of fire, revealing himself to be the Devil.

Another enduring tradition claims that the members always left an empty chair at their table reserved for Satan himself. The club reportedly drank a fiery whiskey concoction known as ‘scaltheen’ while engaging in wild revelry.

More disturbing stories speak of black masses, animal sacrifices and even human sacrifice. One legend tells of a dwarf being sacrificed during an occult ritual. While

historians regard these stories with scepticism, they became deeply embedded in Dublin folklore.

A further tale concerns a fire that damaged the lodge. According to one version, a drunken ‘Burn Chapel,’ the Bigot Whaley, set a servant alight after he accidently spilt a drink on his coat, causing a blaze that spread through the building. Whether true or not, the fire contributed to the club’s decline and eventual departure from visiting Montpelier Hill.

The original club appears to have faded by the early 1740s, although later groups revived the Hellfire name. One of the most notorious later members was Thomas ‘Buck’ Whaley, son of the aforementioned Bigot, a flamboyant Georgian gambler and adventurer whose exploits became legendary in Dublin society. He reputedly travelled to Jerusalem, played handball on the walls of the city and returned within a year as a bet and won.

Today, the ruins of the Hellfire Club remain one of Dublin’s most visited historic sites. Whether viewed as the haunt of devil worshippers, a gathering place for rebellious aristocrats, or simply a ruined Georgian hunting lodge, it occupies a unique place in Irish history. Standing on Montpelier Hill at dusk, with sweeping views across Dublin Bay, it is easy to understand why the Hellfire Club continues to inspire stories nearly three centuries after its founding.