Ulster Gazette Thursday 20th April
Paranormal investigators meeting in Richhill Castle
A GROUP of paranormal investigators are holding regular séances in Richhill Castle. Warren Coates chairman of the Northern Ireland Paranormal Research Association (NIIRA) is leading a group who visit the castle once a fortnight to investigate paranormal activity.
Tape recordings, cameras and highly-sensitive instruments that measure humidity, air pressure and magnetic fields are being used to detect the presence of spirits. Since being built in the 17th century, a number of owners have passed through Richhhill castle, but Dolly Munroe, who was married to William Richardson, is its most famous ghost. And Warren’s visit caused him to reach the conclusion that there is “definite presence”, he said. “When we set up our equipment, we actually got activity over the whole building,” he said. “When you take away things like draughty windows or doors, rumbling pipes or floorboards creaking, you reach the conclusion that there is a definite presence.
“Gordon Little and his wife, Helen, live in part of the castle and are trying to have it restored. But they’ve been good enough to let us use it for our research. Gordon may let a paranormal group have the use of his home but he has never had any ghostly experiences. “In the 47 years that the castle has been my family home I have never seen a ghost,” he said. “My sister-in-laws relatives have though – one of her sisters chatted to the spirit of a lady on the stairs and reckons it was Dolly. “I tend to resent the fact that people can see things, while I live here and I can’t. If they prove there is a ghost here I will accept it,” And recently there has been a great media interest in whether the castle is haunted with television and radio programmes on BBC and RTE.
It was a BBC producer who first introduced Warren to Richhill Castle over a year ago. “As soon as we drove through the gates I just fell in love with the place,” said Warren. “The first time I walked in here I felt as if I’d come home and to be able to do medium ship development work in a building like this is great.” I’ve been doing this since 1991 and Richhill Castle is the only place I’ve walked into and actually felt totally welcomed by the spirits.
Gordon firmly believes that Warren is genuine. “I am a great believer in trust. Warren says he has seen dozens of ghosts and obviously wants to keep coming here so he is not going to mess about.”
Also each time they visit the group make a donation which will go towards the restoration of the castle. “It would take at least half a million pounds to restore the castle and I don’t have that,” said Gordon. “A restoration account has been set up and the interest in the place does generate some money – the fund is definitely growing as a result of the visits from Warren and his group.”
Warren has assured Gordon that he wouldn’t bring just anybody to the castle. “I am careful who I let into Richhill Castle for our meetings – it is Gordon’s private home after all.” NIPRA hold regular open meetings in Groucho’s Inn, Richhill and also investigate cases of paranormal activity in houses free of charge.
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