In 1913 a family by the name of Murphy were to become victims of one the worlds most famous Poltergeist cases in history. The story goes that Widow Murphy, her son and five daughters, who lived in a mountain cottage near Brookeborough, Co Fermanagh. Became plagued by a poltergeist shortly after her husband died in an accident. Strange happenings started to occur with rapping’s and banging’s along with other noises. Above the house was a room used as storage for hey, the room was only accessible by a stone staircase adjoined to the farmhouse, in the room heavy footsteps were often heard, even though nobody was in there. The family often got friends and neighbours around to witness the strange happenings and they did. Shortly after widow Murphy turned to the church for help and Father Coyle from Maguiresbridge, Two excorcisms were performed but to no avail. Another eyewitness was MP Cahir Healy. The strange rapping’s were heard day and night.
Father Coyle described watching as the blankets would rise and fall on an empty bed, as if someone underneath is breathing. Mysterious shapes appeared and disappeared he also reported that pots and pans would suddenly without warning fly across the kitchen and music would waft across the room. Sources claim the rapping’s were sometimes to the rhythm of tunes. A couple of favourites were Boyne Water and The Soldiers Song and that the Poltergeist would dance along to them.
The Murphy family became so scared the decided to flee their home and set sail for America, they were also leaving as superstitious locals had started to accuse them of performing witchcraft. They left via Glasgow believing they would be safe and they were leaving the Poltergeist behind them in Ireland. Much to their surprise and horror it seemed the Poltergeist had travelled with them, as many a night the banging’s and rapping’s continued in their cabin, others aboard the vessel complained to the Captain so much he threatened to put the family of the ship. Even when the Murphy family arrived in America and found a new home the happenings continued. But over time the manifestations and rapping’s subsided and eventually stopped completely allowing the family to get on with their lives the best they could.
It is said and believed that the "Cooneen Ghost" pronounced "Coonian Ghost" is the best-recorded and authenticated ghost in Irish History.