Book Review: Haunted Ireland: an Atlas of Ghost Stories from Every County
Ghost/Paranormal
Wednesday 9th, October 2024
This Halloween, children and horror enthusiasts can step into a world of haunted houses, castles, and even shopping centres with the release of Haunted Ireland: an Atlas of Ghost Stories from Every County. Authored by Kieran Fanning and published by Gill, this chilling collection of ghostly tales showcases 32 of Ireland’s spookiest legends, each tied to a haunted location marked on a map, encouraging readers to explore these eerie sites themselves.
The book takes readers on a journey through Ireland’s most notorious ghost stories, with each county offering a spine chilling tale to discover. Among the standout stories is the unsettling saga of Cooneen's poltergeist. In 1913, Bridget Murphy moved into a small cottage in Cooneen, County Fermanagh, with her adult son and six daughters. Little did she know, this new home would be the site of strange and terrifying events that would drive the family away.
The word poltergeist, as the book explains, comes from the German words poltern, meaning ‘to make sound’, and geist, meaning ‘ghost’. Bridget Murphy, unaware of this phenomenon, soon experienced it firsthand. The family was plagued by unexplained, terrifying noises in the night. Concerned, Bridget sought help from Father Peter Smyth of the local parish.
Father Smyth, too, experienced these disturbances and reported them to Bishop McKenna of Clogher. However, despite requesting the help of a renowned exorcist, Dean Keown, he declined to assist. Father Eugene Coyle was instead sent to investigate, and during his visit, he and Father Smyth heard human like snores from an empty room and witnessed other bizarre occurrences.
Despite their best efforts, the priests found themselves up against an angry and invasive force. Even when the neighbours held the Murphy children’s hands and feet to eliminate the possibility of a hoax, the strange noises persisted. An invisible entity even pushed and punched some of the neighbours, further intensifying the fear surrounding the house.
The priests involved in the investigation did not escape unscathed. Three of them reportedly fell ill following their encounters with the poltergeist, and a fourth priest, Robert Hugh Benson, died mysteriously before ever arriving at the site. With the disturbances showing no signs of stopping, the Murphy family eventually fled to the United States, leaving their home deserted.
Over the years, attempts were made to convert the house into a tourist attraction, but both ventures failed, leading to speculation that the poltergeist's menacing presence may still linger.
Haunted Ireland is not just a collection of ghost stories, it serves as a guidebook for those interested in Ireland’s haunted history. With detailed descriptions of each haunting and corresponding maps, readers can follow the stories to their real world locations and embark on their own ghostly adventures. The book's easy to follow format, coupled with Mark Hill’s illustrations, makes it accessible to younger readers, especially those interested in horror.
Brimming with supernatural tales, this book is highly recommended for children and young adults who enjoy eerie folklore. Priced at around €24.99, it is available at bookshops across the country.
Haunted Ireland is an engaging, atmospheric collection of tales, perfect for those who enjoy the thrill of ghost stories while also learning about Ireland’s rich, haunted history. It opens a window into the world of the paranormal, inviting readers to explore these haunted sites in person, if they dare.
The book takes readers on a journey through Ireland’s most notorious ghost stories, with each county offering a spine chilling tale to discover. Among the standout stories is the unsettling saga of Cooneen's poltergeist. In 1913, Bridget Murphy moved into a small cottage in Cooneen, County Fermanagh, with her adult son and six daughters. Little did she know, this new home would be the site of strange and terrifying events that would drive the family away.
The word poltergeist, as the book explains, comes from the German words poltern, meaning ‘to make sound’, and geist, meaning ‘ghost’. Bridget Murphy, unaware of this phenomenon, soon experienced it firsthand. The family was plagued by unexplained, terrifying noises in the night. Concerned, Bridget sought help from Father Peter Smyth of the local parish.
Father Smyth, too, experienced these disturbances and reported them to Bishop McKenna of Clogher. However, despite requesting the help of a renowned exorcist, Dean Keown, he declined to assist. Father Eugene Coyle was instead sent to investigate, and during his visit, he and Father Smyth heard human like snores from an empty room and witnessed other bizarre occurrences.
Despite their best efforts, the priests found themselves up against an angry and invasive force. Even when the neighbours held the Murphy children’s hands and feet to eliminate the possibility of a hoax, the strange noises persisted. An invisible entity even pushed and punched some of the neighbours, further intensifying the fear surrounding the house.
The priests involved in the investigation did not escape unscathed. Three of them reportedly fell ill following their encounters with the poltergeist, and a fourth priest, Robert Hugh Benson, died mysteriously before ever arriving at the site. With the disturbances showing no signs of stopping, the Murphy family eventually fled to the United States, leaving their home deserted.
Over the years, attempts were made to convert the house into a tourist attraction, but both ventures failed, leading to speculation that the poltergeist's menacing presence may still linger.
Haunted Ireland is not just a collection of ghost stories, it serves as a guidebook for those interested in Ireland’s haunted history. With detailed descriptions of each haunting and corresponding maps, readers can follow the stories to their real world locations and embark on their own ghostly adventures. The book's easy to follow format, coupled with Mark Hill’s illustrations, makes it accessible to younger readers, especially those interested in horror.
Brimming with supernatural tales, this book is highly recommended for children and young adults who enjoy eerie folklore. Priced at around €24.99, it is available at bookshops across the country.
Haunted Ireland is an engaging, atmospheric collection of tales, perfect for those who enjoy the thrill of ghost stories while also learning about Ireland’s rich, haunted history. It opens a window into the world of the paranormal, inviting readers to explore these haunted sites in person, if they dare.
