Coalisland, Tyrone, Northern Ireland (1900s)

Ghost Scare in Ireland.

A Belfast correspondent telegraphs that the district of Coalisland, Tyrone, is in a state of terror in consequence of the nightly visitation of a "ghost." The coal miners have several times refused to work at night despite the visits and assurances of local clergy-men. The spectre is that of a woman dressed in white. Large numbers of men declare they have seen the figure between midnight and three in the morning.
Derby Daily Telegraph, 5th December 1906.

 

Spook or Donkey?

Irish Miners Terrified into Prayer by a "Ghost".

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Belfast, Wednesday Night.

During the past few days a "ghost" of terrifying aspect, has caused much consternation among the men employed at the coal-pit at Red Row, Coalisland. I interviewed to-day the men working at the pit regarding the visitor. Amongst those by whom the "ghost" has been seen are the following workmen: Bernard Quinn, King's Row, Coalisland; Joe Hararan, Annagher; James Hughes, Derry; Joe McMahon, Braekaville, and the latter's father, John McMahon, who works at the Roan Spinning Mill. These are the men, bright and intelligent, with whom I conversed and from whom I obtained the following statement:

James Hughes saw the "ghost" first on the morning of Nov. 28th, at about half-past one o'clock. It was walking round the shed at the gable end of the Red Row, which is about 25 yards from the pit. Joe McMahon saw it after Hughes. It was dressed in white, and had a white cover on its head. You could not see arms nor legs on it, nevertheless it wore distinctly the shape of a human being. On Thursday morning, about the same hour as on Wednesday, Joe Hararan, Bernard Quinn, and John and Joe McMahon were sitting in the cabin, when they all saw the ghost, about two yards from the chestnut tree. 

The apparition, they say, looked like a man or a woman. Jas. Hughes and Joe Hararan walked out on the ban and looked at it for a minute or so. They then came in and sat down, the ghost standing all the time. About two minutes later it moved on again, and the four men then knelt and began to pray, whereupon the ghost came over the ditch into the field that the pit is in and disappeared, apparently, into the earth.

On Saturday morning the ghost came at ten minutes past one o'clock, and stopped at the Red Row corner for about three minutes, and then walked right past the chestnut tree, where it disappeared. It was then "in the shape of a four-footed animal, about the size of a sheep, and had a tail about two feet long, and ears about eighteen inches." About ten minutes later it reappeared, but this time it was like a human being, but all white - dazzling white. It stood now on the middle of the road, about twenty yards from the pit, and a while after walked through a gate into a field.

The men have not seen it since. They all say the apparition would terrify anybody.

London Daily News, 6th December 1906.

 

 Coalisland "Ghost" Turns Out To Be A Donkey.

For some time past the inhabitants of Coalisland and the surrounding district have been considerably alarmed by the reported appearance of a ghost near the old coalpits. Youths and maidens, and even those of riper years, were afraid to move out of doors after sunset. Various theories were advanced to account for the strange apparitions. Search parties were organised, and some daring individuals waited the other night with the coalers till the visitor arrived, when it was discovered that the "ghost" was no other than Mr. John Corr's grey donkey, which, it seems, is in the habit of roaming about after night near the old coalpits.

Belfast News-Letter, 13th December 1906.