Many of the Hellfire Club stories feature a black cat.

‘A few years ago there were reports of a phantom cat being seen in the area of Killakee…  This cat legend apparently goes back to the eighteenth century and the nefarious activities of the Hellfire Club, which is remembered by Dubliners because of the famous ruin of that name on Montpelier Hill which can be seen from the city itself.  The club was said to be frequented by members of the Dublin branch of the society.  Wild carousings and sacrilegious ceremonies were said to have been carried out there, and up tot he present day few people will go near the ruins after dark….  A black cat, supposed to represent the devil, presided, and sometimes when the meeting ended after a midnight a member of the club emerged as Satan, wearing the skin, tail and horns of a cow, to the terror of any citizens who happened to be around at the time.  On one occasion the large tom cat was immersed in the scaltheen and set on fire.  It was pushed outside the door, and when it appeared, the crowd who had gathered to listen to the ribald shouts and singing inside, seeing a fierce animal with flames leaping from it rushing straight at the them, thought the devil had really appeared and fled for their lives.’ (4)

This feline theme was included in another story that tells of a young visitor to a local farmhouse, who was led by inquisitive nature to climb Montpelier Hill to investigate the Hellfire Club.

‘The next day he was found dead, lying face-down in a stream.  His host was convinced that the members of the Hellfire Club had murdered him, and so persuaded a clergyman to accompany him while he went to confront them.  They arrived at the Club just as night fell, and when they knocked at the door they were roughly seized and dragged into the dining room where a banquet was about to begin.  They were pushed into empty chairs, as a magnificent looking black cat stalked into the room and seated itself at the head of the table.  The priest noticed that the cats ears were not erect, but lying like horns to either side of its face.  The cats wide evil eyes glared malevolently at the clergyman, who rose to his feet to try to leave the banquet.  He was roughly thrown back into his seat.  He desperately produced a bottle of holy water that he threw with all his force at the cat, while at the same time reciting the prayers of exorcism.  The building became engulfed with the flames of hell, and in the panic and confusion the screaming of the farmer could be heard above everything.  The priest continued to recite the prayers of exorcism until the smoke drove him from the building. Outside he found the farmer dead, with his face ripped open gruesomely.  The priest was said to have never recovered from the ordeal.’ (5)

Historic image of the Hellfire Club and photographer. Thought to be late 19th / early 20th century. Tallaght Historical Society Collection.

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