Haunted House.
Weird Happenings in Ireland.
From our own correspondent. Belfast, Thursday.
Mysterious noises at midnight in a house at Bridge End, Co. Donegal, have created alarm in the district. The house is said to be haunted and a clergyman was called in to lay the ghost, but still the strange noises continued.
First there were raps at the front and back doors simultaneously. Then windows began to rattle and the sounds of chains being dragged in the street outside complete the weird hub-bub. Night after night the manifestations go on. Stout-hearted volunteers kept vigil round th ehouse, but in spite of their watch the weird performance was repeated. The family sit up all night with friends to console them.
All Donegal is intrigued and the uncanny happenings are somehow blamed on an octogenarian who died a fortnight ago.
Manchester Evening News, 4th February 1926.
Donegal “Haunted” House.
Villagers alarmed by weird happenings.
Thrilling all-night vigil.
In connection with the Donegal ghost story it is learned that so convinced were the people of the “haunted” house of the existence of some unearthly agency disturbing their midnight rest that they approached a local clergyman and asked him to lay “the spirit” which had been causing such alarm. While the sceptical doubt the tale that is being told, others attribute the manifestations to a human agency.
The story as gathered from people in the district is as follows: – The townland of Elaghbeg, near Bridge-end Railway Station, had been the scene of manifestations of a truly extraordinary character. While those who spread the news were emphatic and not to be shaken in their conviction that a “ghost” was haunting the house of Patrick Canning, a farmer, at Aileach Beg, the circumstance and detail with which they told their story was at least sufficient to point to the fact that recent happenings at Mr Canning’s homestead were the work of some unexplained, if not unearthly, agency.
Briefly the facts are these. Exactly a fortnight ago last night a well-known and aged resident of the district of Bridge-End passed away at the patriarchal age of 86. He was formerly the owner of the house and land at Aileach Beg where Mr Canning now resides, his sons having disposed of the property some time ago to the present owner. The old man was much attached to the place, and was determined, if at all possible, to remain in the house he loved so well, notwithstanding the change of ownership and all that it involved. It was difficult to make him realise that he must find new quarters, but at length he was forced to accept realities, and saying good-bye to Aileach Beg, he secured lodgings in a neighbouring townland. There he resided till his death, with no untoward consequences to himself or his neighbours. Two weeks ago last night he died, and from that time began the weird occurrences which have since thrown a remote and peaceful locality into bewilderment and confusion.
Last night fortnight, on the stroke of 11.30, the Canning family heard a succession of loud knocks or “raps” on the farmhouse door. The door was promptly opened, but not a soul was to be seen. Several times this performance was repeated, always with the same result – that those who rushed to the threshold and flung open the door could not behold a living thing. Nor on going out of doors couldl they detect a sign or sound to disturb the silence of the night. All possibilities of a practical joker were set aside when the knocking or thumping went on repeatedly both at the front and back doors. As if to heighten the eerie effect of the demand for admittance an incessant banging soon began to rattle the windows, while now and then the sound was heard as of chains being dragged in the “street” outside the house. The family, terror-stricken, remained awake until four a.m., when the annoyance ceased. On the following night, afraid to remain alone, they sought the comfort and assistance of neighbours, who remained up all night with them. The previous happenings were all faithfully repeated, and are vouched for by those who were present.
Needless to say, accounts of the whole affair gained a wide local circulation, often in a lurid form, with the result that crowds of country people visited Aileach Beg each day, impelled by mixed feelings of curiosity and fear. Several of the more stout-hearted volunteered to remain during the night, and unfailingly experienced the happenings which began the night the octogenarian died. Many were anxious to test the truth of the story, which is now accepted without question by all those who reside in the locality, and have made a first-hand acquaintance with the amazing happenings.
Two local men, anxious to deliver their neighbours from annoyance and exact a heavy penalty from practical jokers, if such should exist, resolved to deal sternly with anyone who might be made responsible for an exceptionally mean trick. One of them, an ex-British solder, took up a position of vantage one night, but found that when he thought the moment for fight had come, he had no foe but the intangible and formless air! Another, a local blacksmith, strong of arm and resolute of mind, spent a night in vain on the same generous and manly quest.
Northern Whig, 4th February 1926.
longer article but illegible https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0001123/19260203/045/0005?browse=true