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Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 2000-04 > 0954883817


From: Linda Merle <>
Subject: Contributers to "True Irish Ghost Stories"
Date: Tue, 04 Apr 2000 13:30:17 -0800


A couple years ago I picked up a paperback volume remaindered at Borders
entitled "True Irish Ghost Stories", by St John D Seymour and Harry L Neligan.
This edition was published in 1998 by Parragon (13 Whiteladies Road,
Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1PB). It was first published in 1914. The ISBN is
0 75252 679 0 . It is full of names and locations.

Our author in the preface explain that its genesis was in his "Irish Witchcraft
and Demonology (1913), which included some 17th century ghost stories. There
were then many books, as now, on Irish fairy and folklore, but ghosts were
neglected and disadvantaged. But he himself didn't know any. So he wrote a
letter to the principle newspapers of Ireland, which published the
letter. Within
a fortnight he had a enough material to write a book. Our author is St John
D Seymour, himself rector at Donohil Rectory, Cappawhite, Tipperary.

His list of contributors comprise the Anglo Irish gentry of his day. They
lived in many haunted old houses, they did. He includes their residences,
giving us a glimpse of where they located.

Here is his list of ladies and gentlemen who provided the material for this
wonderful book:

Mrs S Acheson, Drumsna, Co Roscommon
Mrs M Archibald, Cliftonville Road, Belfast
J J Burke, Esq., UDC, Rahoon, Galway
Capt. R Beamish, Passage West, Co Cork
Mr A Bayly, Woodenbridge, Co Wicklow
R Blair, Esq, South Shields
Jas Byrne, Esq. Castletownroche, Co Cork
Mrs Kearney Brooks, Killarney
H Buchanan, Esq. Inishannon, Co Cork
J A Barlow, Esq, Bray, Co Wicklow
J Carton, Esq., King's Inns Library, Dublin
Miss A Cooke, Cappagh House, Co Limerick
J P V Campbell, Esq, Solicitor, Dublin
Rev E G S Crosthwait, MA, Littleton, Thurles
J Crowley, Esq, Munster and Leinster Bank, Cashel
Mis C M Doyle, Ashfield Road, Dublin
J Ralph Dagg, Esq, Baltinglass
Gerald A Dillon, Esq, Wicklow
Matthias and Miss Nan Fitzgerald, Cappagh House, Co Limerick
Lord Walter Fitzgerald, Kilkea Castle
Miss Finch, Rushbrook, Co Cork
Rev H R BGillespie, MA Aghancon Rectory, Roscrea
Miss Grene, Grene Park, Co Tipperary
L H Grubb, Esq, JP DL, Ardmayle, Co Tipperary
H Keble Gelston, Esq, Letterkenny
Ven J A Haydn, LLD, Archdeacon of Limerick
Mis Dorothy Hamilton, Portarlington
Richard Hogan, Esq, Bowman ST, Limerick
Mrs G Kelly, Rathgar, Dublin
Miss Keepe, Carnahallia, Doon
Rev D B Knox, Whitehead, Belfast
Rev J D Kidd, M A Castlewellan
E B de Lacy, Esq, Marlboro Road, Dublin
Miss K Lloyd, Shinrone, King's Co
Canon Lett, M A Aghaderg Rectory
T MacFadden, Esq, Carrigart, Co Donegal
Wm Mackey, Esq, Strabane
Canon Courtenay Moor, MA Mitchelstown, Co Cork
J McCossan, Esq, Journalist, Strabane
G H Miller, Esq, J P, Edworthstown
Mrs P C F Magee, Dublin
Rev R D Paterson, BA Ardmore Rectory
E A Phelps, Esq, Trinity College Library
Mrs Pratt, Munster and Leinster Bank, Rathkeale
Miss Pim, Monkstown, Co Dublin
Miss B Parker, Passage West, Co Cork
Henry Reay, Esq, Harold's Cross, Dublin
M J Ryan, Esq, Taghmon, Co Wexford
P Ryan, Esq, Nicker, Pallasgrean
Miss A Russell, Elgin Road, Dublin
Lt-Col the Hon F SHore, Thomas-town, Co Kilkenny
Mrs Seymour, Donohil Rectory
Mrs E L Stritch, North Great Georges St, Dublin
M C R Stritch, Esq, Belturbet
Very Rev the Dean of St Patrick's DD
Mrs Spratt, Thurles
W S Thompson, Esq, Innshannon, Co Cork
Mrs Thomas, Sandycove, Dublin
Mrs Walker, Glenbeigh, Co Kerry
Miss Wolfe, Skibbereen, Co Cork
Mrs E Welsh, Nenagh
T J Westropp, Esq, MA MRIA, Sandymount, Dublin
Mrs M A Wilkins, Rathgar, Dublin
John Ward, Esq, Ballymote
Mrs Wrench, Ballybrack, Co Dublin
Miss K E Younge, Upper Oldtown, Rathdowney

In 1926 he published another edition, including first hand experiences.
They came from

Major Beamish, Passage West, Cork
Rev Leslie G Davis, MA Castle Connell Rectory, Limerick
Miss C Dysart, Moville, Dongeal
Mrs Dix, Welington Road, Dublin
Mrs Dorothy Emerson
Miss Kathleen G Evans, Upper Leeson St, Dublin
Miss Fleming, Monkstown, Cork
Thomas Fahey, Esq, Tinnahinch, Annacarty, Tipperary
Rev H R B Gillespie, B D LLB (formerly of Aghancon Rectory)
C Gleeson, Esq, nenagh
Mrs Houlihan, National Bank House, Thurles
Thomas S Hill, Esq, Donnybrook, Dublin
Mrs Ada Vere Hunt, Ardmayle, Co Tipperary
Rev Canon Johnstone, M A Bansha Rectory, Tipperary
F R B Kennedy, Esq, Birr
R Coplen Langford, Esq, Kilcosgriff, Shanagolden, Limerick
Mrs Mansell, Toronto, Canada
Mrs A Notter, Station Road, Belfast,
Richard Pearson, Esq, Doon, Co LImerick
F C Pilkington, Esq, Hume St., Dublin
M J Ryan, Esq, Mulmintra, Taghmon, Wexford
Mrs Markham Rae, Dungarvan
Miss E M B Seymour, Ardfinan, Cahir
Mrs Seale, St Luke's Rectory, S C R, Dublin
Rev Canon J C Trotter, Monkstown, Dublin
Rev R W Talbot, M A Loughrea
Rev Canon A B R Young, MA Bath .

Ghosts in Conn's Half. Ireland has been traditionally divided several
ways, including halves. Halves were done by Conn the Hundredfighter and
Mogh Nuadat AD 166. The division is a series of gravel hills that go from
Dublin to Galway.

Mrs Acheson in Co Roscommon, reports ghosts at Emo House, a
very old mansion, now torn down, purchased by her grandfather.

A house halfway up Clogher Valley, on the townland of Carnakirk was
once occupied by a brother and sister named Wilson. A brother had emigrated
to Canada. Staying on was George Wilson.

Mr W S Thompson reports an experience in 1882 of his father William
Thompson, who took over a grocery and spirit business from a Dr S,
who had inherited it. His sister ran the business. It was near Belturbet.

In 1910, a laboring man named Redmond, lived in a house in Court Street,
Enniscorthy. He took in boarders, including John Randall and George
Sinnott. John Randall was a carpenter.

The village of Scotchfort is 4 miles south of Ballina. A haunting is reported
on a farm on the shore of Lough Conn, purchased 38 years before. On it
was a thatched cottage, previously owned by Cawley -- a family with 8
daughters. Daughters apparently done in by fairies living in 6 raths which
the attentions of various clergy, including several Masses at the house failed
to allay.

Mr. Joseph M'Crossan was a journalist on the staff of the Strabane Chronicle,
who reported an incident in 1913 at Strabane railway station. The interviewed
men include a Pinkerton, Michael Madden, Fred Oliphant.

Mr William MacKey of Strabane reports repeated repetitions of an event from
the late 1700's when a widow named Sally Mackey had 3 sons and lived on
the outskirts. Apparently they were United Irish. The government issued a
warrent for the three sons for high treason. The cottage home of the Mackeys
was approached by a bridle path from the main road to Derry, which the military
had to pass single file to execute the warrent. However the Mackeys
ambushed them, all three sons dying in the shooting and fire that
followed. The
widow survived, living with a kinsman for many years. This event can still
be witnessed by the lucky few!

The late Canon Ross-Lewin of Limerick reported a near death apparition
of his uncle John Dillon Ross-Lewin, lieutenant in the 30th regiment, mortally
wounded at Inkerman on Nov 5, 1854, who died the following day. (Crimean War)

Late Canon Courtney Moore, MA, Rector of Mitchelstown, reported that
18 years before, Samuel Penrose returned from Argentine. He had been doing
well, but his wife was ill. He was a carpenter by trade.

A Mrs MacAlpine reported driving to Castleblaney in Co Monaghan to meet her
sister in June, 1889.

Mr Richard Hogan reported an experience of his sister, Mrs Mary Murnane.
She lived at 21 Montrose Street, Philadelphia, in August of 1886, when she
saw a vision of an aunt in Limerick, then dying.

Trivia: What was in ancient times, the most famous banshee in
Ireland? Answer: That attached to the house of O'Brien, Aibhill, who
haunted the rock of Craglea above Killaloe, near the old palace of Kincora.
She foretold the death of Brian Boru at the battle of Clontarf in 1014 (my
ancestor fought in that battle).

The late Mr T J Westropp, MA, provided a story from his maternal grandmother,
who heard it from HER mother, one of the "Miss Ross-Lewins". Their father
was Mr Harrison Ross-Lewin in 1776.

Many Irish went to the Continent. An American lady reported a banshee who
visited a Colonel Neilsini in Italy. His great grandfather had served in
the Irish
Brigade. When it was dissolved at the time of the French Revolution, he
escaped the massacre of the officers, and fled with an O'Brian and Maguire
to Italy. His son, born in Italy, changed the name, but the banshee was
with them several generations later. (The Irish side of my family still has a
banshee too).

Headless coachmen stories reported by Mr T J Westropp in Limerick,
when his great grandfather, Mr Ralph Westropp, lay dying in 1806. His sons
included John, William, Ralph.

Another one in 1821 was witnessed by a son Cornelius O'Callaghan by
a Halloran and a Burke in Co Clare. Also one was witnessed the day before
Admiral Sir Burton MacNamara died in London in 1876.

An experience is provided by Mr Matthias Fitzgerald, who was coachman
to a Miss Cooke, of Cappagh House, Co Limerick.

1642 Wallstown Castle, seat of the Wall family in Co Cork, was burnt by
Cromwell's troups and Colonel Wall was imprisoned in Cork jail, where he
died. One of the defenders of the castle was Henry Bennett, also killed
during the siege (and who still haunts it). A caretaker was named Philip
Coughlan and wife saw the ghost frequently.

Loftus Hall in Co Wexford, was built on the site by Raymond, a follower
of Strongbow. His descendents forfeited it in 1641, when it became the property
of the Loftus family, who built it up. In the middle of the 18th century it was
lived in by Charles Toffenham, a member of the Irish parliament. The second
sonun, Charles, two daughters Elizabeth and Anne. Later Charles lived
there with his second wife and Anne, who later haunts the place.

Linda Merle


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