Spooks & Scares: Kells Irish Pub
Alongside my everyday writing work and all things history (because you know I can’t stay away from the past 👑📜), I also write for a paranormal company — which basically means I get to deep-dive into ghost stories, haunted buildings, and the kind of history that lingers after dark 👻✨
With St. Patrick’s Week here, I couldn’t resist sharing an Irish-themed haunted gem that blends cozy pub charm with chilling legends. It’s festive, it’s historic, and yes… it might just be haunted. 🍀🔥
Tucked into the dreamy brick streets of downtown Portland, Kells Irish Pub isn’t just your go-to for cozy vibes, live fiddle music, and a perfect pint — it’s one of the city’s most whispered-about haunted hotspots 👻🍀✨
By day (and honestly, most nights), Kells glows with warm lights, laughter, and the kind of Irish hospitality that makes you want to stay forever. But beneath those clinking glasses and fairy-tale pub vibes? There’s a darker layer of history literally under your feet.
Kells sits above the infamous Shanghai Tunnels — a network of underground passages dating back to the 19th century. These tunnels connected the waterfront to downtown hotels and saloons and were allegedly used in Portland’s “shanghaiing” era, when men were kidnapped and forced into maritime labor. Yes, it’s as dramatic as it sounds. ⚓🌫️
The building itself — the historic Glisan Building — dates back to the late 1800s, when Portland was a booming (and rough-around-the-edges) port town. Long before craft beer and Irish stew, this area saw sailors, dockworkers, boarding houses, and more than its fair share of tragedy. Fires, disease, disappearances — early Portland was not for the faint of heart.
Kells opened in 1990, founded by Irish immigrants Gerard and Lucille McAleese, who wanted to bring authentic Irish culture to Oregon. Together with his brothers they opened he pub while his mother cooked authentic Irish food. Over the years, it’s become a Portland institution — especially during its legendary St. Patrick’s Day celebrations 💚🍻.
But staff and visitors alike will tell you… something else came with the building.
So… is Kells actually haunted?
Many believe it is.
Employees have reported:
✨ Cold spots in the basement
✨ Glasses moving on their own
✨ Flickering lights when no one’s near the switches
✨ The feeling of being watched after closing time
The basement — closest to the old tunnel entrances — is where things get especially spooky. Some say they’ve felt unseen hands brush their backs. Others claim to hear footsteps when the pub is empty. A few even whisper about the piano playing soft notes on its own. 🎹👀
And then there’s the Firefighter.
One of Kells’ most famous spirits is a tall man dressed in an old-fashioned fireman’s uniform. Many believe he may be connected to David Campbell, a real Portland fire chief who died in the line of duty in 1911 during a massive warehouse fire. Witnesses describe sudden chills and even the faint smell of smoke before sightings. Unlike darker presences, this spirit is said to feel protective — like he’s still keeping watch over the building. 🚒🔥
It’s this mix of cozy charm and chilling history that makes Kells such a feminine ghost-story dream: soft lighting, historic brick, live music floating through the air… and just a hint of the supernatural lingering in the shadows.
Whether you believe in ghosts or just love a little historic drama, Kells is proof that the past never really leaves — it just settles in, orders a drink, and waits.
So next time you’re in Portland, raise a glass… and maybe glance over your shoulder.
Just in case. 👻🍀✨
#HauntedPortland #KellsIrishPub #GhostStoryVibes #SpookySeason #PortlandHistory #ShanghaiTunnels #GirlsWhoLoveGhosts
Sources:
Read:
Watch/Listen:
Tour:
