Y Goeden Eirin: The Phantom Druid of the Plum Tree

Y Goeden Eirin (“The Plum Tree”) is an ancient public house in Denbigh, North Wales, reputedly one of the oldest inns in Wales, with parts of the structure dating back centuries. The pub takes its name from a sacred tree that once grew on or near the site—a tree that according to legend was central to pre-Christian Celtic religious practices. The building is haunted by the ghost of a druid priest, along with other phenomena connected to the site’s long history as a location of worship, sacrifice, and supernatural power spanning over 2,000 years.

The Sacred Tree

Before Christianity came to Wales, Celtic druids practiced their religion in sacred groves and around revered trees. The plum tree (Welsh: goeden eirin) that gave the pub its name was allegedly such a sacred tree, marking a site of druidic worship and possibly ritual sacrifice. Trees held profound spiritual significance in Celtic religion, serving as meeting points between earthly and divine realms, and certain trees were believed to be inhabited by spirits or gods.

The original plum tree is long gone, but the site retains its name and its supernatural associations. Welsh folklore suggests that places of pre-Christian worship retain spiritual power even after conversion to Christianity or secular use. Building a pub on a sacred druidic site may have been an attempt to “neutralize” the pagan spiritual energy, but according to the haunting legends, the ancient forces were never truly banished.

The Phantom Druid

The pub’s primary ghost is a druid priest, one of the Celtic religious leaders who performed ceremonies at the sacred tree site:

Appearance

Witnesses describe the phantom druid as:

• A tall, imposing male figure in long white or cream robes
• Wearing a hood or having long hair and a full beard
• Carrying a staff or ceremonial object
• Sometimes adorned with what appear to be ritual ornaments—torcs, bracelets, or symbolic items
• His face is described as weathered, ancient, and deeply serious
• He appears solid and detailed, not translucent like stereotypical ghosts

Manifestations

The druid appears in several ways:

The Guardian: Standing near where the sacred tree once grew, arms crossed or holding his staff, as if protecting the site from intrusion or desecration. His presence is described as powerful and somewhat intimidating, the spirit of someone who once held significant authority and spiritual power.

The Ritualist: Performing what appear to be ceremonial gestures—raising arms to the sky, making blessing or curse motions, walking in specific patterns as if performing a ritual. Witnesses report that during these manifestations, the atmosphere becomes charged with energy and tension.

The Observer: Standing silently in corners or near the fireplace, watching modern pub visitors with an expression that suggests he is judging or assessing them. Some witnesses report feeling examined or weighed by his penetrating gaze.

The Warning: The druid sometimes appears before significant events or changes at the pub or in Denbigh. Some locals interpret his appearance as an omen or warning, a supernatural weather vane sensing disturbances in the spiritual landscape.

Locations

The phantom druid manifests in specific areas:

• The Oldest Section: The parts of the building believed to date to the 16th century or earlier, particularly where the sacred tree stood
• The Fireplace: A large stone fireplace that may incorporate stones from earlier structures on the site
• Near Windows: Looking out toward Denbigh Castle and the surrounding landscape, perhaps toward other sacred sites
• The Cellar: Underground spaces that may connect to even older structures or natural features

Pre-Christian Sacrifice

Darker legends suggest the sacred tree site was a location of ritual sacrifice in pre-Christian times. Celtic druids did practice both animal and (more controversially) human sacrifice in specific circumstances. Archaeological evidence of ritual deposits and possible sacrifice sites exists throughout Celtic Britain, and some Welsh folklore preserves disturbing memories of these practices.

The Sacrifice Victims

Beyond the druid, other spirits allegedly haunt Y Goeden Eirin:

The Victim: A young person (gender varies in accounts) who was sacrificed to the gods at the sacred tree. This spirit manifests as:

• A frightened or resigned figure in ancient Celtic dress
• Appearing bound or restrained
• Sometimes accompanied by the scent of blood or earth
• Creating an atmosphere of profound sadness and fear

The Procession: Multiple robed figures appearing in formation, carrying what seems to be a ceremonial victim toward the tree site, as if replaying ancient rituals imprinted on the location.

Screams and Cries: Audio phenomena include sounds interpreted as cries of pain or fear, possibly psychic echoes of sacrificial deaths.

Archaeological Context

While no definitive archaeological evidence of sacrifice has been found specifically at Y Goeden Eirin, the broader region contains:

• Iron Age hillforts with ritual deposits
• Bog bodies showing evidence of ritual killing
• Sacred springs and wells associated with sacrifice
• Evidence of Celtic religious practices throughout North Wales

The sacrifice legends may represent:

• Genuine historical memory preserved in folklore
• Later Christian demonization of pagan practices
• Psychological projection of violence onto ancient sites
• Misinterpretation of other historical events

Christian Conversion and Conflict

When Christianity arrived in Wales (5th-6th centuries CE), the church often built on or near pagan sacred sites, both to claim the spiritual power of these locations and to prevent continued pagan worship. The conflict between old and new religions may have created spiritual tension that persists:

The Cursed Ground

Some legends suggest that druids cursed the sacred tree site when Christianity threatened their religion, creating a spiritually charged or “cursed” location. The phantom druid may represent:

• A spirit bound to the site by duty or curse
• The personification of Celtic religion refusing to yield to Christianity
• A protective force maintaining the site’s ancient sanctity
• An echo of the cultural trauma of religious conversion

Christian Exorcisms

Historical records suggest that churches and secular authorities attempted to “cleanse” pagan sites through exorcism, blessing, or construction. Building a secular tavern on the site may have been part of this effort to neutralize its sacred power. However, the continued hauntings suggest these efforts failed—the ancient spirits remain.

Other Paranormal Phenomena

Beyond the druid and possible sacrifice victims, Y Goeden Eirin experiences extensive supernatural activity:

Environmental Anomalies

Cold Spots: Extreme localized cold appears in specific areas, particularly where the druid manifests or near the fireplace. This cold is described as bone-deep and unnatural, persisting even near fires or heaters.

Atmospheric Pressure: Witnesses report sudden changes in air pressure, a heaviness or oppression that makes breathing difficult, particularly before the druid appears.

Strange Lights: Orbs, moving lights, or a general luminescence appears in the oldest sections of the pub, sometimes interpreted as spiritual energy or will-o’-the-wisps from Celtic folklore.

The Sacred Silence: Occasionally, all sound seems to stop—conversations become inaudible, music fades, normal ambient noise vanishes, creating an eerie silence that lasts seconds to minutes before normal sound returns.

Object Phenomena

Moving Items: Objects relocate overnight—glasses, furniture, decorations found in different positions or different rooms entirely.

Ceremonial Arrangements: Items sometimes arranged in patterns suggesting ritual significance—circles, triangles, alignments with windows or compass directions.

Resistance to Change: Attempts to renovate or significantly alter the pub encounter unusual difficulties—tools breaking, workers injured, materials disappearing, or overwhelming feelings that changes are unwelcome.

Audio Phenomena

Beyond possible sacrifice screams, witnesses report:

• Chanting: Voices in unison, possibly in ancient Celtic languages (now extinct and unrecognizable)
• Drumming: Rhythmic percussion with no source
• Footsteps: Heavy walking, particularly in upper floors and areas above the pub
• Whispering: Indistinct conversation in unknown languages

Protective or Territorial Behavior

The druid and other presences seem protective of the site:

• Unwelcoming Atmosphere: Certain visitors report feeling unwanted, watched, or actively pushed away
• Selective Manifestation: The druid appears more frequently to people who:
  • Show disrespect to the building or its history
  • Attempt to photograph or investigate without permission
  • Express skepticism or mockery toward Celtic spirituality
• Defender: Some witnesses interpret the druid as defending the sacred site from intrusion, maintaining its spiritual integrity despite 2,000 years of change

The Broader Sacred Landscape

Y Goeden Eirin doesn’t exist in isolation but as part of Denbigh’s sacred landscape:

Denbigh Castle

The medieval castle looms over the town, visible from the pub. The castle itself is reputedly haunted, and some researchers suggest a spiritual connection between the ancient druidic site and the later medieval power center.

The Valley

Denbigh sits in the Vale of Clwyd, an area rich in prehistoric and early medieval archaeology. The valley contains:

• Ancient burial mounds
• Iron Age settlements
• Medieval churches often built on earlier sacred sites
• A landscape shaped by millennia of human spiritual practice

This concentration of sacred sites may create a “thin place” in Celtic terminology—a location where the boundary between physical and spiritual realms is permeable.

Modern Experiences

Contemporary visitors and pub staff report ongoing phenomena:

Visual Encounters: Clear sightings of the druid in full detail, sometimes lasting several seconds before he vanishes.

Emotional Responses: Overwhelming feelings of awe, fear, or respect when in the oldest sections, as if in the presence of something ancient and powerful.

Dreams and Visions: People sleeping in or near the pub report vivid dreams of ancient ceremonies, sacrifice rituals, or the druid communicating warnings or messages.

Photographic Anomalies: Digital cameras and phones frequently malfunction. Photos that do work often show unexplained figures, light anomalies, or atmospheric distortions.

Sensitives’ Experiences: Psychics and spiritually sensitive individuals report:

• Overwhelming psychic impressions of ancient ceremonies
• Communication attempts from the druid spirit
• The presence of multiple entities from different time periods
• The sense that the location is a “power spot” with unusual spiritual energy

Celtic Revival and Modern Paganism

The 20th and 21st centuries have seen renewed interest in Celtic spirituality and neo-pagan religions. This revival may affect the haunting:

Increased Respect: Modern pagans treating the site with reverence may please the druid’s spirit, potentially reducing hostile manifestations.

Energy Reinforcement: New spiritual practices at or near the site might strengthen ancient energies, intensifying paranormal activity.

Synchronicity: The druid may manifest more frequently to those who honor Celtic traditions, as if recognizing spiritual kinship across millennia.

Skeptical Perspectives

Critics argue the haunting reflects:

• Suggestion: Knowledge of the legends primes visitors to interpret normal phenomena as paranormal
• Marketing: Ghost stories attract customers to the pub
• Old Building Syndrome: Drafts, settling, and acoustic properties of old structures create illusions
• Cultural Memory: Stories preserving vague memories of pre-Christian religion, not actual spirits

Believer Perspectives

Those convinced of the haunting argue:

• Consistency: Independent witnesses describe identical phenomena across decades
• Specificity: Details of appearances and manifestations match across accounts
• Power: The druid’s imposing presence and the site’s atmosphere exceed what suggestion alone could create
• Sacred Sites: Locations of intense spiritual practice retain psychic energy

A Timeless Guardian

Whether the phantom druid represents a genuine ancient spirit, a cultural memory made manifest, a psychological projection, or something else entirely, Y Goeden Eirin remains one of Wales’ most unusual haunted locations. Unlike most ghost stories rooted in medieval or Victorian history, this haunting reaches back to Wales’ pre-Christian past, connecting modern Wales with its Celtic roots.

The druid standing guard over his sacred tree site embodies cultural continuity across 2,000 years of religious and social change. Roman conquest, Christian conversion, Norman invasion, industrialization, modernization—all these transformations failed to dislodge the ancient priest from his post. He remains, eternal guardian of a sacred site, watching over a pub built on ground he once consecrated to gods whose names are now forgotten.

For visitors to Y Goeden Eirin, the experience goes beyond typical pub atmosphere. The building connects them not just to medieval Wales or Victorian drinking culture, but to the deepest layers of Welsh history—to the druids, the sacred groves, the old gods, and the mysteries of Celtic spirituality that Christianity suppressed but never entirely erased. In the presence of the phantom druid, the past is not dead history but living presence, and the sacred plum tree, though long vanished, still marks a threshold between the ordinary world and the realm of spirits, gods, and ancient power.