Cormac Strain - Haunted Tyrone

CONTENTS

T HERES a fine little village in Tyrone called Gortin (pronounced Gort-Chin), nestled snugly in the Sperrin Mountains. Not too far outside it, in the direction of Plumbridge, lies the farmhouse where our first story takes place.

In February 2012 Tim Elis, a Dubliner by birth, had travelled to the area on business. He explains what happened next:

A view of the village of Gortin.

I met my client in Omagh, which is only a handful of miles from where a college friend of mine lives. I studied with Dan McCullagh in Dublin at the turn of the century from 1998 until 2004 . We were good friends and kept in touch, so after meeting my client in Omagh, I rang Dan. He gave me rough directions to his house (I say rough directions, because to be frank he lives in the middle of nowhere).

Dans house is a big old farmhouse dating back to the mid- 1800 s but I didnt know that at the time. All I knew was that it was getting dark and I had to get myself to a place called Gortin, where Dan would be waiting for me, and Id follow him from there on in.

The journey itself didnt really take as long as I thought it would, and brought me through some beautiful countryside, up a mountain and cut right through a forest (the Gortin Glens Forest Park I, was later to learn) before exiting out the other side. Down the other side of the mountain I went and then, as if out of nowhere, the quaint little village of Gortin appeared. I spied Dans car and sent him a quick text (one can never be too sure the last thing I wanted was to end up following a complete stranger).

The forest park in the Gortin Glens.

Satisfied it was in fact Dan, I followed the tail lights of his Honda Civic, never letting it out of my sight. When I said earlier that Dan lived in the middle of nowhere, I probably didnt stress how far into the middle of nowhere it was. In fact, it had been quite a while since Id been there so I had forgotten just how far into the abyss we were going. Small mountainous roads lead us on and on, with rickety wire fences atop half-hidden old stone walls, eaten up by the soil and grass which seemed determined to reclaim as much as it could. Eventually we arrived. Thankfully I am a seasoned traveller of Irish roads otherwise that experience would have put me off driving for life. I never realised roads got so narrow.

Here we go! said Dan, as he got out of his car and proceeded to lock it.

Is that force of habit? I asked. Surely if someone stole your car theyd either crash on those roads or be going so slow you could catch them up with a jog?

Ha ha, said Dan sarcastically. I see your sense of humour is still terrible.

At least I live in an actual society, I replied, to which Dan let out a burst of laughter.

Ah, he said, it certainly is a far cry from the city of Dublin. You wont find a clamper for miles up here.

Dan invited me into the house, where his wife Aisling already had a fire blazing and a sturdy stew on the boil. I was starving and the smell of food just made me all the more hungry. After greeting Aisling who, like every Irish person, just knew the right time to stick on the kettle, regardless of dinner being almost ready Dan and I engaged in small talk for a few minutes. The catching up would happen later, more than likely over a few pints.

What do you do for a pub around here? I asked. Its like youre in the middle of nowhere.

Ah, you know Tim, replied Dan, you were always one for jumping to conclusions. Just because its dark outside doesnt mean that there isnt a pub over the road. Granted youll get a few stares since you arent local, but it was one of the prerequisites before we moved here. Find a place with a pub near it was at the top of the list.

Thats the Dan I remembered. Always one step ahead.

The house was big, old and had a certain je ne sais quoi about it.

Good, I replied. Weve a lot to talk about, and talking makes me thirsty.

Then it was time to tuck into the stew. Homemade stew, homemade bread and warm, sugary tea the kind of things health fanatics might frown upon, but probably a good choice of sustenance for this kind of mountain living.

As we ate, I asked about the house and what a house! It was big, it was old and it had a certain je ne sais quoi about it. I asked how Dan had managed to acquire it.

It was an uncles, believe it or not. Left to me in his will, even though I had hardly ever met him. He was my godfather and considering I never saw him at my communion or confirmation, I assume he thought hed make up for it by giving me the house. He was quite a queer fellow though. According to the family history he bought this place in the mid- 1960 s. Apparently he was quite an outgoing character, but he had more downs than ups in life and so he moved in here and cut himself off from everyone. In fact, when we were kids, it was rumoured amongst our other cousins that this place was haunted. Ha ha! Haunted, imagine that! Thatd be a turn up for the books.

I couldnt help but notice the quick glance that passed between husband and wife.

I thought you said that you were looking for a place with a pub near it? I asked, slightly confused. As I looked to Dan for an answer, Aisling busied herself with the pot of stew.

Some more, Tim? she inquired, before Dan could answer my question.

As Aisling was filling my plate with more stew, Dan gave me the background history on the house and blatantly seemed to be avoiding my question. Maybe I had caught him out. Maybe he was boasting a bit when he mentioned choosing a place near a pub, so best probably to let that line of discussion go in case its embarrassing, I thought.

which is where the servants quarters were. Thats been converted to a storeroom years ago though, Dan continued, completely oblivious to my internal thinking.

Having finished our meal, I helped with the dishes before Dan suggested going for a pint. You two go on, said Aisling. Ive got some EastEnders to watch. Be careful walking on that road at this time of night, was the last thing we heard before the front door closed and we were in the chilled night air.

Theres no real need to give a detailed outline of the pub or the drinks, other than to say it was a friendly establishment where everyone really did know everyone elses name bar mine of course. I was the stranger from down south. The hours flew by and before I knew it, we were wandering back down the road to Dans house. I hadnt actually drank very much as I was on the road the following morning. Plus, Im not much of a drinker. Dan, on the other hand, must have drunk or pints and was certainly under the influence. I tried to get him to talk about the house, but all he would say to me on the way back was he hoped I got a good nights sleep though, it seemed from his expression, that might not happen. If youve ever been in that situation where you are sober and you are trying to have a conversation with a drunk person, youll understand why I gave up trying. I just went along with what he said.

Aisling, thankfully, was still up when we got back. Dan trotted on up to his bed, leaving me standing in the hallway until Aisling came out of the kitchen, switching off the lights as she did, and gave me directions to my bedroom. It was called the Guest Room suitably enough and apparently had been designated as such since the house was built.