Mystery surrounds who the skull belonged to, although initial examinations by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster suggest it was an adolescent who could have died up to 100 years ago.

Gardaí admitted it could take some time to solve the identity of the person or how they died.

The macabre discovery was made by the owner of the period house in Ballynoe, Co Cork, on Thursday. He purchased the two-storey house just two months ago and was knocking the part of the ceiling between the ground floor and first floor when the skull fell down.

A pair of hand-stitched leather shoes were found alongside it. The shoe size, however, indicates that they belonged to an adult.

The house owner immediately took the skull to Fermoy Garda Station.

Gardaí sealed off the building and called for the assistance of Dr Bolster.

A number of locals told gardaí that the house had a reputation as being "spooky" or "haunted".

Superintendent Tom Myers, who is leading the investigation, said Dr Bolster’s initial examination suggested the skull was a number of years old. However, gardaí will not be able to determine the exact age of the skull or sex of the individual until archaeological experts from UCC have thoroughly examined it.

Supt Myers said it was obvious the skull didn’t get there of its own accord.

He said gardaí would continue searching the house and adjoining land to see if they could locate other skeletal remains.

They are checking missing persons lists and carrying out inquiries in the area.

The Gothic-style house is believed to have been built by the 6th Duke of Devonshire in the late 1700s and was once part of the Lismore Castle estate.

Auctioneer Paul O’Driscoll, who sold the house, said he was shocked by the revelation. "In all my 23 years in the auctioneering business I’ve never come across anything like this before," he said.