Latter Day Supernatural Pranks.
Shakespeare says that “there are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy,” and that speculative assertion of the immortal Bard receives about an equal amount of endorsement and contradiction, – Time there was when the pros and cons on the matter were not perhaps so equally divided as at the present day when education, more especially that part of it which teaches the development of the physical sciences is fast dispelling the last lingering traces of that strong supernatural belief so long persistent in the Irish heart. Who among us but can call to mind – how vividly too – the ghost stories of our childhood, and the implicit belief we had in the existence of Phookas and Hobgoblins – with what persistency too did our imagination, people certain, dark corners, and fantastic looking white-thorn bushes with supernatural habitues who constantly regarded us with malicious eyes, and were ever ready to kidnap or swallow us up.
There is a philosophy in superstition decry it as we may – Tis time that the early impressions formed in its regard may be weakened or entirely dissipated by the training and experience of after years; but still even when we have learned to boast of our scepticism, a well told ghost story or a noctural ‘recontre’ at first sight unexplainable creates a nervous flutter in our hearts that we are often at a loss to explain.
This philosophic preamble we intend more or less as an apology for the good, and hitherto [non?] superstitious people of Clonoulty whose quiet village has just been the scene of a remarkable ghostly escapade. The facts as far as we have been able to ascertain are as follows, and many readers of the “Gazette” in this locality can vouch for their accuracy.
The parochial school-house (which by the way stands within the precincts of the parish burial ground) has been the ‘locals’ of the ‘latest manifestation.’ On the morning of Wednesday the 24th Dec, Mr Renison, the teacher, his wife and two children left Clonoulty for the purpose of spending the Xmas with some friends, who resided in one of the midland counties. As part of the school-house was occupied by him as a residence, and contained valuable furniture, it is almost unnecessary to say that he carefully locked the doors before leaving. During the course of the day nothing remarkable was observed, but on the following morning the doors were found open by a passing neighbour, who at the same time made the curious discovery that the bolts of the locks were not shot back as if opened by a key or ‘jemmy,’ but were in their proper position as when ‘locked.’
Intimation of the occurrence was at once given to Mr Boyle, one of the wardens of the parish, who proceeded to the scene of the ‘supposed’ burglarious entry, and made the still more surprising discovery that although admission to the house had been effected in some mysterious manner; everything inside remained untouched; – some groceries and butter – delicacies in special demand at this season of the year sharing the general immunity. Unaccountable as the matter was even at this stage of the proceedings we are in a position to say that the villagers were not disposed to regard it in anything like a superstitious light.
It is probable that Mr Boyle may have prevented their conjectures taking that turn by some explanation suited to the occasion; he again carefully locked the doors, but when the following morning came found them again opened under ‘exactly similar’ circumstances – the village air became suddenly charged with superstition in its worst and most aggravated form.
This second manifestation of a burglarious nature (albeit the property remained intact) was deemed sufficiently serious to bring the matter under the notice of the police, adn two members of that force were detailed to occupy the house on the following night. We must all admit that their position was a unique one. It was pretty generally understood by this time that it was no mortal hand that caused doubly locked doors to fly open at its touch without even asking them to reverse their mechanical action – and then the groceries and butter neither carried away wholesale – nor suffering the slightest diminution, was a convincing proof (and why not to the official mind too) – that ball cartridge would in this particular case be powerless to keep the raiders at bay.
Nothing daunted however, no matter what might have been their opinion on the matter, or their ‘intentions’ either; the garrison cheerfully took possession, and doubtless had their guard been inspected at the witching hour when ‘Churchyards yawn, And graves give up their dead.’ They would have been found on the alert – rifle in hand, looking for the advent of either a supernatural or mortal foe. With a feverish anxiety for the fate of those who were beleaguered by the ‘manes’ of more than ten generations who should have been quietly sleeping in their graves opposite, Clonoulty was early on the ‘qui vive’ – and news enough it had too. The doors were again opened in the same ghost-like manner; the slumbers of the garrison were in no way disturbed [??] butter and groceries occupied in tranquil safety their old position. The police quite unable (of course) to throw any light on the matter after their long and anxious vigil (?) left for the barracks; and Mr Renison who had just arrived by the morning train moved into his old quarters, despite the remonstrances and entreaties of the Clonoulty folk, with whom he is an especial favourite.
Since his arrival there has been no further invasion of the parochial schools, but some time will elapse before the occurrences, strange, and so far unexplainable will cease to be an interesting topic of discussion in Clonoulty and its environs.
CARHANE.
Cashel Gazette and Weekly Advertiser, 3rd January 1880.