A Haunted House.
The peaceful little town of Kells has suddenly grown important through the undesirable possession of a female ghost, who is “gilding the sober twilight with colour of romance.” She has struck out quite an original line of business. She haunteth not the castellated battlements of some mediaeval manor, like the family goblin; neither doth she visit the glimpses of the moon. She comes forth in broad daylight and disgraces her fellow spirits by making her presence felt in the unromantic and modern precincts of a labourer’s cottage, built by the local Board of Guardians.
This extraordinary and out of the way conduct of a member of the ethereal body was announced at the last meeting of the Kells Union, when the tenant of a cottage, John Brennan, wrote signifying his intention of giving up possession, on the ground that the dwelling was haunted. “I paid two months’ rent in advance,” he remarks, in pathetic parenthesis, “and I also limewashed the house. But I gave up the key to the collector on this date.” The Relieving Officer, Mr Conlan, assured the guardians that the haunted house is “all right.” Brennan, he added, saw nothing, but heard someone calling him. The kitchen chair was moved, and the legs put into the fire. The Kells’ ghost, unlike Hamlet’s father’s spirit, is evidently not “condemned to fast in fires,” and must be of the Esquimaux species, seeing that she evidently enjoys the warmth derived from drawing her chair close up to the grate. Probably, is she is not a member of the “blue ribbon order of ghosts,” her restless arctic spirit might be accommodated by the gift of a kettle, a bottle of rum, and a few coals. Meanwhile the guardians have a house thrown on their hands without any likelihood of securing a new tenant.
Drogheda Advertiser, 10th August 1898.
The following was read: – Tullatten, August 5, 1898.
The Chairman Board of Guardians, Kells.
Sir – I regret that I had to leave the labourer’s cottage at Leagh for a continuation both day and night of noise, as the house is haunted (laughter). I paid two months’ rent in advance, and I also limewashed the house. I gave up the key to the collector on this date. John Brennan.
Mr Radcliffe – Is it haunted? I heard before he left it a policeman had to leave it. Is this the policeman?
Clerk – He is a friend to the policeman.
Relieving Officer Conlan, on having his attention called to the matter, said it was a curious case. Mr Radcliffe – I heard of a house haunted in the night, but not in the day.
Mr Sheridan – He is evidently suffering from delusions. Chairman – Is it in a lonely place. Relieving Officer Conlan – No, it is along the road. It is on Edward Smith’s farm.
Chairman – What can we do? Mr Sheridan – He gives the house such a name that we’ll get it hard to get a tenant. Chairman – You’ll have to lay the ghost. What did the ghost do to him?
Relieving Officer Conlan – He saw nothing, but heard something calling him. Mr Radcliffe – Is he all right? Relieving Officer Conglan – He is.
Mr Radcliffe – Was he ever in Mulligar? Relieving Officer Conlan – He is all right . It is a woman’s ghost. He saw nothing, but a chair was removed and the legs up to the fire. It is very curious.
The matter dropped.
Drogheda Advertiser, 10th August 1898.
Kells Board of Guardians, Saturday.
An unusual sort of ghost.
John Brennan, Tullatin, wrote on the 5th August: “I regret that I had to leave the labourer’s cottage at Feagh from a continuation both day and night as the house was haunted. I paid two months’ rent in advance and I also limewashed the house. I gave up the key to the collector on this date.”
(Laughter). Mr Radcliff – That house is haunted they say. There were two or three people living in it. The last man was an ex policeman and he is gone now.
Clerk – The man before him died in it.
Mr Radcliff – And he is there yet it seems. The house is haunted and no one will stay in it – at least they say it is haunted.
Rent Collector Conlon said it was a very curious case; Brennan told him that he couldn’t live in it. Mr Radcliff said he had heard of houses being haunted in the night but he had never before heard of a house being haunted in the day time. Mr Sheridan – The man must be suffering from delusions. Rent Collector Conlan said the man said he saw nothing, but there were noises and things were moved about the house.
Mr Sheridan – He’ll give the house such a bad name that we won’t get a tenant for it. Chairman – We’ll have to lay the ghost. What did the ghost do to him? Mr Conlan – He says it did nothing at all. Mr Radcliff – And is the man all right? Mr Conlan – Yes he’s all right himself, but I couldn’t say much about the woman. A Guardian – Aye, it is the woman I suppose. Mr Conlan – He says he saw nothing, but there were noises and a chair was removed from where he left it.
Drogheda Independent, 13th August 1898.
The Kells Ghost.
Up to the present no further complaints have reached us regarding the spiritual peregrinations of the female ghost at Tullyatten. In addition to her evident coldness of nature, she is possessed of extremely bad taste in not exhibiting herself save to the son of the soil, who stoutly averred that she disturbed the peace of his cottage.
Drogheda Advertiser, 17th August 1898.
That Female Ghost.
Much amusement was created on the reading of some correspondence at the Kells Board of Guardians on Saturday last, relative to the “lady ghost” who has lately been the cause of much commotion in the district of Tullyatten. Mr Manning, Board of Works inspector, was granted permission to spend his holidays in company with the lady. Another applicant generously offered to evict the lady on receiving 15s per night, but this did not meet with the approval of the board, who naturally preferred Mr Manning’s tender. We hope to give a full description of the ethereal lady in next week’s issue, as a representative of this paper will wait upon her at an early date.
Drogheda Advertiser, 14th September 1898.
The Haunted House.
John McConnell, Tiercorke, wrote: – “Having been informed by a few members of your board that you are willing to give a reward to any person who sleeps three nights in the so called ‘haunted cottage’ at Feagh, I hereby propose to stop in it for three successive nights at £2 5s 0d (15s a night). I am a brother in law of the late tenant, Pat Farrelly, and I slept with him for several weeks in the cottage, during which time I never found any bottles or bricks a firing, or chairs moving without human aid. So that I’m not afraid to sleep in it now, and if there be anything in the house to question it and find what takes it there. I will also, if you keep me in [fire?] remain in it as caretaker till you get a tenant, and if he be afraid to occupy it, I will engage to stop with him for a while and see him all right.”
Following up this gracious offer to rid the guardians of a troublesome tenant, Mr William Manning, Inspector Board of Works, wrote:-
“I have been informed the guardians have a ‘haunted’ labourer’s cottage in Feagh, and that no one will go near it. I will be taking about 10 days’ leaves from 19th of this month and want a change. If the guardians can see their way to letting it to me temporarily I would 1.) take it at whatever rent they may see fit to charge or 2.) go in as a caretaker at 1d per week and give a guarantee (£10) that at any time they find a bona fide labourer to take it I will (within 24 hours’ notice) hand it over to them. In support of Mr Manning’s candidature for the proud privilege of soothing this uneasy spirit, Mr Michael Cahill, Tallyattee, wrote: –
“As a member of the Newcastle divisional committee I would recommend Mr Manning, Board of Works Inspector, to have that haunted labourer’s cottage in Feagh for a month or so as he will pay you well. I think it will help to dispel ‘the ghost reputation’ and encourage a bona-fide labourer to take it in the future. I only speak in the interests of the ratepayers and not have it shut up and paying nothing for it.”
Chairman – What will you do, gentlemen?
Mr Tully – Mr Bryan Smith, I am sure, will propose that the ‘haunted house’ be given to Mr Manning, and it will give me great pleasure to second it.
Chairman – As a caretaker? (laughter) you will admit him?
Chairman – He will be ‘fowling’ down there and it will suit him largely.
After some discussion it was decided to admit Mr Manning as caretaker.
Drogheda Independent, 17th September 1898.
That Ghost Again.
Pursuant to invitation our representative had the pleasure of spending a night in the “haunted house at Kells” on Monday last. Mr Wm Manning, C E, who is occupying the cottage for a fortnight’s shooting in the neighbourhood, very kindly placed a room at our reporter’s disposal, and therein he spent the night prepared to do battle with the evil spirit on behalf of this paper. Although invisible, the ghost was not inaudible, and those who enjoyed Mr Manning’s hospitality can testify to the commotion raised by the “spirit” or “spirits,” as the case may be. A full account of the adventure will be found in another column.
Drogheda Advertiser, 21st September 1898.
The Haunted House at Feagh.
A Night with the Ghost.
Remarkable stories.
Many of our readers have, no doubt, been much amused with the repeated references to the female ghost, who is alleged to have chosen the unhallowed precincts of a labourer’s cottage near Kells for her temporary abode. On inquiry we learned that the inhabitants of the surrounding district of Feagh had been considerably alarmed at the doings of the ghostly visitor, and that it was next to impossible to get any one to stop in the house for love or money.
The history of the cottage, as far as we could learn from the neighbours, is briefly as follows – It is an ordinary one-storied labourer’s dwellinghouse, containing four rooms, and a small pantry or cupboard, and was built by the Kells Guardians some eight or ten years ago, and was then considered a very confortable and most desirable residence for a labourer. However it was not much fancied by the people of the district, who believe that it is built upon the site of an ancient rath or “fairies’ walk,” as they call it, and herein lies the whole foundation of the story.
The first tenant was a man named Pat Farrelly. He, it appears, was in the right hand room leading off the kitchen upon a certain day, and was heard calling for help. His friend ran in and found him struggling on the bed with some unseen antagonist. On being brought into the kitchen he recovered somewhat, and in reply to the anxious queries of his relatives, stated “that some one was choking him by the throat.” He died shortly afterwards, and as further annoyance was caused by the unseen spirit, the cottage was not long in possession of the Farrellys, who were afraid to live in it after these experiences.
The house remained vacant for a considerable time, but was eventually let by the Guardians to one Hugh McMahon who, it appears, was of a very courageous and fearless disposition. However, his courage was soon to undergo a severe test. One night whilst in bed he found himself being choked by some invisible person, and his efforts to release his throat from the terrible clutch being fruitless, he at length jumped clean through the window in mortal terror, and coulr not be persuaded to live there any more.
An ex-sergeant of police named Brennan was the third tenant, and he, we may easily conclude, would not be alarmed at a mere shadow. Nevertheless, he would not stop in the cottage for ten days, although he had previously paid the Guardians eight weeks’ rent in advance. It appears that Mr Brennan was subjected to considerable annoyance during his short term of residence, and as far as we could learn from a young man named Garrigan his experiences were none too pleasant. Mrs Brennan, he alleged, was one day rocking the cradle when it was suddenly pulled away from her although she had a firm hold upon it at the time. Her husband also saw a tall kind of black figure looking at him in a menacing attitude. On several occasions sweet music was heard, bearing a striking resemblance to a duet played upon a fiddle and fife. This music, Garrigan said, was always heard under the boards of the floor, and the people of the district knew by the soft cadence that it could be none other than that of the fairies or good people, as they are familiarly styled.
Mr Kegley, the nearest neighbour of Brennan’s, also told us of the curious stories that were floating about, and we were almost convinced at the remarkable way in which the various narrators corroborated one another’s statements.
Before leaving the house, Brennan intimated to the Guardians his inability to stand the conduct of the ghost, and further stated that it had thrown various articles at him. The sergeant at Moynalty went up to see the house in company with a constable, and Mrs Brennan showed both the various articles which had been thrown about the rooms, a cracked pot-lid especially attracting their attention, as it had evidently only recently been broken.
A fortnight ago the Guardians received two applications for the “haunted house.” One was from a man named Farrelly, who offered to sleep three nights in the cottage alone on condition that he was remunerated at the rate of fifteen shillings each night. Mr William Manning, CE, a well known and popular gentleman in county Meath was the other applicant, and he offered to take the cottage at a nominal rent or otherwise as the guardians might decide, as a shooting box from the 19th inst. The Guardians immediately agreed to let Mr Manning take up his residence in the cottage and appointed him caretaker from the date mentioned. On the same day we applied for permission to stop for a night in the cottage provided Mr Manning did not object, and in writing to this gentleman on the subject he very kindly sent a most cordial invitation to us, with the result that we were enabled to enjoy a very pleasant and not altogether uneventful night.
The remainder of the “ghost hunt” can be best described in our reporter’s own words. He said “I started from Kells about one o’clock last Monday in company with Rev Father Kenny, P P (Moynalty) who very kindly offered me a seat in his trap on learning my intentions. After a very pleasant drive we arrived in Moynalty where I parted with Father Kenny. Here I spent a pleasant half-hour wandering about and admiring the scenery which at this spot is as fine as can be seen in any part of Ireland. At Moynalty I learned that the huanted house was fully three Irish miles away so I started en route about three o’clock fully determined to get there before darkness set in as I was not too anxious to meet a ghost on the road in addition to that which I expected to find in the house. Walking pretty slowly, I was enabled to reach the Mullagh road about half past three and was directed straight to the cottage by a “son of the soil” who had some really non-too-inspiring yarns about the doings of her spiritual ladyship.
On reaching the cottage I was met by Mr Kegley who was busily engaged in preparing the exterior of the house for Mr Manning’s reception, and he with characteristic Irish hospitality invited me into his own house (not the haunted one) where I spent a very pleasant hour in pleasant conversation with his mother who had also something to add to my already larger store of spiritual female ghost lore. I should mention that I had a peep through the window of the haunted house, but nothing alarming met my gaze with the exception of a packet of cigarettes and my only regret was that the door was locked, and I could not get them as my supply of the “comforting weed” had run short. Having an hour and a half to kill before Mr Manning arrived I took a “snapshot” of the house, and bent my steps Mullaghwards, arriving there after half-an-hour’s brisk walking. Here I replenished my failing store of tobacco, and had a pleasant chat with Mr TP McKenna, the popular guardian of the district.
On the return journey nothing remarkable occurred, except that a “goose” resented my walking on the public road, and endeavoured to show its objection to me by flying at me with extended beak and flapping wings, at the same time uttering sundry indignant “quacks.” Finding its attentions rather uncomfortable, I was reduced to the necessity of keeping it off by lighting fusees and throwing them at it, whereupon it beat a hasty retreat. On nearing the “haunted house” a young donkey, with undue familiarity, persisted in rubbing its nose against my back, so I had to hit him with the camera, eventually managing to drive him off. Sadly reflecting on the vagaries of biped and quadruped animosities, I at length arrived at the Feagh cottage, where Mr Manning shortly made his appearance, accompanied by his son, Mr George Manning, and Denis Fitzsimons, his groom. Here I might mention I met Sergeant McLoughlin, who had further details of the ghost ready, so that if I ever want to write a volume on “Spiritualism,” I have lots of copy and narratives to fall back on.
We adjourned to the cottage, and in opening the door I was struck at the sudden fondness for whistling and stamping his feet that animated the young man who let us in. The furniture arrived about five minutes later, and I can truthfully say that for the first time in my life I saw two young men, Mr George Manning and “Denny” (as I will now call him), put up the bedsteads, and lay an excellent supper in the short space of half-an-hour. Mr John Lynch arrived, and he, Mr Manning, and I adjourned to the room where the man was choked for the purpose of having a talk. Mr Lynch, in the course of a conversation I had with him, expressed his belief that the house was haunted and left us about ten o’clock with many a serious injunction to “take care of ourselves.” We were also warned by several people who came in “not to interfere with the ghost” if she appeared, but to let her pass on and say nothing.
Young Mr Manning and “Denny” had in the meantime been busily engaged in looking after the dogs and putting up a bed in each of the three rooms. At about eleven o’clock we all turned in to our respective rooms, having as yet heard nothing of the ghost. Mr Manning and his son George occupied the room on the right, “Denny” was in the one next to the pantry, whilst I was comfortably installed in the one in which the ghost had lately taken up her abode, and where she had been most lively in her petty annoyances. Of course I didn’t say much, but I thought a good deal, and in looking out through the base window all kinds of ghostly stories that I had heard or read of suddenly seemed to come back to memory, so that I was in non-too-sleepy a frame of mind when getting into bed. The first noise I heard was made by the dogs, “Bob Cheeter” and “Hoppy,” who had been brought into the kitchen for warmth, as it was very cold outside. However I put this noise down to their being not unnaturally alarmed and agitated at being in a strange house. For a considerable time after this the dogs kept very quiet except that they gave a low growl or two now and then which did not tend much to restore my equanimity of mind.
Everything was very quiet and peaceful until about twelve o’clock when a most unearthly howl saluted my ears and gave me what is known as a “cold water feeling” about the spinal chord. This howling was repeated again and again, and the dogs evidently were now much alarmed and were barking furiously. The howling was something like the long drawn wail of a stout man suffering from a severe attack of neuralgia, but with twenty times the intensity. The noises evidently came from the other room where “Denny” was reposing and I must say I did not care to go in and enquire after his health at the time. This continued for about half an hour when it suddenly ceased. On looking out of the window my hair had an upward tendency on beholding something white upon the hedge opposite, but, alas, for my expectations it was only an old newspaper which was being blown backwards and forwards by the wind. Nothing further happened during the night, and in the morning we all met and talked over our night’s experiences.
Mr Manning said he thought he heard a noise once and his son, Mr Geo. Manning, solemnly averred that he heard one or two diabolical laughs which seemed to come from my room. Denny also heard noises which in his opinion bore a close resemblance to the long drawn caterwaulings of a bevy of cats. Certainly we all heard something and the dogs were evidently much alarmed during the night. In fact I could swear that there were “spirits” in the house and it only required the further evidence of the necessary shrieks to convince me of the presence of the immaterial. However, we were all safe and that was a blessing to be thankful for. After breakfast I took a photograph of the exterior and interior of the house and its occupants, subsequently eliciting a few facts from Mr Manning as to the object of his visit to such a remarkable place.
“How did you come to think of taking the cottage, Mr Manning?” I asked. “Well, I had been very busy for the past few months and as the shooting season was approaching I determined to take a holiday. Hearing that this cottage was vacant, I applied for it and was appointed caretaker by the guardians. Mr Radcliffe very kindly gave me leave to shoot his property so I decided that there could not be a more convenient spot than this cottage.” “Do you believe in ghosts?” “No. Certainly not.” “Do you know anything that would lead you to suppose that the coattage was haunted?” “Nothing but hearsay. On Sunday last I came down to make arrangements, and the sergeant told me not to go in for fear of my life.” He and the constable had been in and the woman was terrified. They saw the broken pot lid. Some one also said that the “devil” was in the house. As I had to leave early I bade Mr Manning good-bye having spent a very pleasant though exciting night and drove into Kells with young Mr Manning.”
We should mention that in the morning a number of the neighbours came down to see if the occupants of the cottage were alive, whilst in passing through Moynalty our reporter was evidently looked upon as a curiosity by the inhabitants who have a strong belief in spirits, for having survived the night.
Drogheda Advertiser, 21st September 1898.
The “Ghost.” The ghost at Kells has with one exception, been in a dormant state since our representative visited her at the “haunted house” last week. On Thursday last she gave the local gamekeeper a sorry fright, adn he was found in a state of collapse by Mr Manning’s servant. This is really very bad form on the part of her ladyship, but we intend to give her another chance of turning up by paying a return visit at an early date, provided the guardians give the necessary permission.
Drogheda Advertiser, 28th September 1898.
Drogheda Harbour Board, Tuesday.
…
The “Ghost” Again.
Mr Tully asked had anything been heard of the Kells Ghost. Mr Smith said that Mr Manning’s tenancy expired that day. Mr Tully said he had heard that Mr Manning’s door had been opened in the middle of the night by some invisible agency, and that the gamekeeper, John Lynch, was found sitting opposite the cupboard by the servant with a loaded blunderbus calling upon the ghost “to come down if it dared” and alleging that he had heard a “frightful roar.” Nothing further was done regarding this matter, and the Board adjourned.
Drogheda Advertiser, 5th October, 1898.
The Haunted Labourer’s Cottage.
The alleged haunted labourer’s cottage at Feagh, in Kells Union, and situated between Kells and Bailieboro’, is the subject of much gossip in the district, in consequence of its being abandoned by two tenants and taken by Mr W Manning, inspector of Board of Works, with the object of seeing the “ghost,” and it is stated he has not had the experience of the former tenant, Mr John Brennan, ex-constable of the Royal Irish Constabulary.
According to his statements, bottlles, boots, pot lids, would jump even in the daytime from the floor to the ceiling of the cottage, and in the night there was continual music and noise in the cottage, and doors slapping though bolted previously.
Though a brave man, with a young wife and children, he has removed to a worse house, for which he is paying the same rent as for the cottage. It is considered that the house will be a long time before it is occupied again by a bona fide agricultural labourer.
Irish Independent, 5th October 1898.
The Kells Ghost.
Whilst the Civic Fathers of Kells are said to be in a quandary over the management of the affairs of that historic town, their brethren of the Poor Law Board are in an equally sad plight over one of their many domiciliary possessions – the haunted (?) house at Feagh. It is once more vacant, after passing through the hands of many tenants, and being experimented upon by a few very valiant ghost deliverers, who were unable to ‘lay’ the pugilistic female spirit who wanders uneasily about both by day and night.
It is all very well for Mr Manning to say ‘if repairs were made he did not see why any reasonable tenant should not take it,’ but if he saw as a lady, who lives adjacent to the haunted house beheld the other day, a large, jet-black dog, wearing a scintillating pair of pince-nez, gazing nonchalantly at her through one of its windows, to disappear instantly and before her very eyes, in a large dusky puff of smoke, it would be certain to dispel whatever scepticism may in him exist. Such was the statement which she made when she arrived home one evening last week, after her speech was restored and the cold perspiration ceased to bathe her trembling brow.
The cottage was visited on Sunday last by large numbers of cyclists from Virginia and other districts, and considerable interest was manifested by them in the tales told of ‘the haunted house.’
Drogheda Independent, 15th October 1898.
A Cavan Ghost.
The latest ghost story comes from Feagh, a village in County Cavan, Ireland. It is alleged by the villagers that a house belonging to the Guardians of the Kells Union is haunted and an ex constable, named Brennan, and his family, who entered into occupation of the dwelling a few months ago, has experienced some bad quarters of an hour at the hands of the ghostly visitant. They were awakened at night by unearthly shouting, whistling, and music; the children’s clothes were dashed in the father’s face; a bottle was flung at him and a sandboard [?] hidden in the dresser jumped up to the kitchen fire. This finished the constable and he and his family wisely vacated the cottage. The only cause that can be found for the cottage being haunted is that a man lived there years ago called Drummer Kingley.
Ballymena Observer, 21st October 1898.