From fairy forts to itchy noses and lone magpies, Kilkenny has officially been named Ireland’s superstition capital, according to the country’s first-ever Superstition Index.
The nationwide study, conducted by Casino.org IE, blended survey results, Google search trends, and folklore mapping to rank every county in Ireland out of 100 — revealing how deeply ancient beliefs still influence modern life.
Kilkenny topped the chart with a score of 57.9/100, followed by Galway (49.5), Waterford (49.4), Donegal (47.1), and Down (46.33). At the opposite end of the scale, Tipperary (29.9) emerged as the least superstitious, just below Laois (32.9) and Sligo (33.6).
The study also highlighted Ireland’s most widely held superstitions, including:
69.9% believe fairy forts should never be disturbed
69.3% would avoid buying a haunted or cursed house
66.6% think roads should be rerouted to avoid fairy forts
63% refuse to put new shoes on the table
60.8% knock on wood to ward off bad luck
Other popular traditions include throwing salt over the shoulder (47.9%), believing burning ears mean someone’s talking about you (46.1%), and saluting lone magpies (38%). Nearly one in five people (19.6%) said they’ve seen a ghost or had a haunting experience.
According to the findings, over half of Irish people (52%) describe themselves as superstitious — a figure that rises to 63% among women. People in rural areas are around 20% more likely to hold superstitious beliefs than city dwellers, while 18–24-year-olds emerged as the most superstitious age group.
Perhaps most strikingly, even among those who claim not to be superstitious, 89% still follow at least one ritual — often without realising it. As one spokesperson put it, “Ireland’s folklore runs far deeper than most people realise, especially around this time of year. Even the sceptics still follow the rules without thinking.”
They added: “From fairy forts to itchy noses, the old beliefs haven’t gone anywhere — they’ve just become part of everyday life. The data shows that! 89% of people who claim not to be superstitious still follow at least one superstition — it’s pure habit.”
