Located in the isolated area of Cooneen, near the Fermanagh/Tyrone border, the Cooneen Ghost House is one of Ireland’s most renowned and chilling ghost stories. The tale revolves around the Murphy family, who resided in this cottage in the early 20th century and were subjected to intense and unexplained paranormal activity.
In 1911, Mrs. Bridget Murphy, a widow, lived in the cottage with her six children. Following the tragic death of her husband in a freak accident, the family began to experience strange and unexplained occurrences. The initial signs of paranormal activity were relatively mild, consisting of knocks on the door, footsteps in the empty loft, and various unexplained creaks and groans. These noises were not confined to nighttime; they occurred both day and night, leaving the family perplexed and frightened.
As time progressed, the paranormal events escalated in intensity and frequency. Plates would travel across tables seemingly on their own, and bedclothes would move around in empty beds. The family and their visitors often heard rapping sounds, sometimes to the rhythm of tunes such as “Boyne Water” and “The Soldiers Song”.
The bizarre events at the Murphy residence soon attracted the attention of the local community, clergy, and even a Member of Parliament, Cahir Healy. Father Coyle, a Catholic priest from Maguiresbridge, was among the first to investigate these phenomena. He, along with Cahir Healy, witnessed pots and pans banging together, uncanny shapes flickering across the walls, and other inexplicable occurrences. These events were so startling that they were even covered in the newspapers of the time.
Desperate for a solution, Mrs. Murphy turned to the Church for help. Father Coyle was granted permission to perform two exorcisms, which were among the very few ever conducted in Ireland. Despite these efforts, the exorcisms were unsuccessful. During the rituals, bed sheets would rise off the beds, cups and plates would fly around the room, and deafening groans could be heard coming from upstairs. The failure of these exorcisms only added to the family’s terror and the community’s skepticism.
As the paranormal activity continued unabated, rumours began to circulate that the Murphy family was responsible for the haunting. It was alleged that Mrs. Murphy’s son had found a book in the forest near Cooneen titled “The Legions of Doom,” which contained instructions on how to practice satanic rites and contact demons. The son’s supposed interest in the spirit world and his attempt to raise a demonic spirit were seen as the catalyst for the haunting. These accusations led to the family being ostracized by their neighbours, who believed they had brought the demonic activity upon themselves.
Faced with no local support and fearing for their lives, the Murphy family made the decision to emigrate to America in 1913. However, the haunting did not end there. The poltergeist activity reportedly followed them onto the ship and continued to plague them during their voyage. Documents from the voyage note loud banging and moaning noises coming from the Murphys’ cabin, which disturbed other passengers and even prompted the captain to intervene. The haunting persisted for several years after their arrival in America, eventually fading but leaving a lasting impact on the family. One of Mrs. Murphy’s daughters spent her life in a mental institution, a testament to the profound trauma they endured.
The Cooneen Ghost House, now a derelict ruin, has been abandoned since 1913. Despite the passage of time, the cottage is said to retain an oppressive atmosphere. Visitors to the site often report feeling a lingering eerie presence, and the house remains a place of dark fascination. In recent years, the surrounding trees were cleared by the NI Forest Service, making the isolated cottage more visible and accessible to curious onlookers.
The Cooneen Ghost story has become an integral part of Irish folklore, particularly in County Fermanagh. It has been featured in various media, including the BBC series “Northern Ireland’s Greatest Haunts,” where spiritual medium Marion Goodfellow experienced the presence of an angry man and sensing an evil energy emanating from the house. Marion described the house as one of the scariest and most awful places she had ever visited.
