Irish paranormal investigators witness numerous apparitions in County Tyrone

The Northern Ireland Paranormal Research Association (N.I.P.R.A.) received numerous requests for an investigation of a particular road in Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Sightings reported included the ghost of an old woman by the side of the road who disappeared when approached, as well as the figure of a young woman seen walking in front of cars and then disappearing. 

N.I.P.R.A Founder Warren Coates decided to visit the area. The first investigation took place the evening of 11/26/2004. Coates, along with several fellow investigators, set up a camcorder with night vision. Two investigators stayed by the roadside to observe, while the remaining two team members held a vigil in the ruins of the nearby house.

Jo, part of the roadside team, was observing for about an hour when she received the name “Thomas.” She and the other investigator present could see an old woman on the other side of the road watching them. The woman appeared solid, but had an "unearthly" look around her. She seemed unhappy. She was visible for at least one or two minutes, before slowly fading away. The investigators by the roadside and in the building held EVP sessions and continued their vigil for another hour or so, but finally packed up and went home. Evidence review of the camcorder and digital voice recorder revealed nothing unusual.

During N.I.P.R.A.’s second investigation on 12/3/2004, team members heard a woman’s voice and received impressions of sadness and anger. Several members standing close to each other all heard and felt this. In addition to conducting paranormal investigations, N.I.P.R.A. is also a spiritual development group and they train others to learn to open themselves to communicating with spirit. As they were preparing to leave, they once more saw the old woman watching them. This time she was visible for several seconds. The investigators attempted to follow her, but found themselves overcome with sadness. Warren received a message that the woman was unable to fully cross over until an issue concerned with her land and the church has been resolved.

N.I.P.R.A tried again on 12/15/2004, focusing on the house itself rather than the roadside. Once more, they became aware of the spirit of a woman and also felt that they were being watched by a male spirit. After asking their guides to help them communicate with the restless spirits, they all experienced a deep sense of depression and felt that both the man and the woman needed help to move on. They decided to perform a non-denominational clearing, first bathing the area in a brilliant white light and then asking the spirits to let go of the earth plane and move on to meet with friends and loved ones who were waiting for them. The atmosphere became more peaceful but, during a later visit on 4/23/2005, the investigators once again felt the presence of spirits in this same area.

They did some additional research in the local library and discovered two cases of fatal car accidents on this same stretch of road. Apparently, the former tenant of the ruined house nearby is rumoured to be haunting this area, too, although Warren feels that it is the spirit of another woman and not the former resident. He says, “The woman we worked with and the sightings of the locals are not the same woman. We know there were two fatal car crashes on this road and we feel very strongly that the spirits we were sensing are connected with one or more of those events.”

N.I.P.R.A.’s latest visit to the site took place in January, 2009, but the publicity has apparently attracted numerous sightseers hoping to glimpse the ghost and it was too crowded to do a proper investigation. They still sensed the spirit of the old woman, along with a man who prefers to stay in the shadows. N.I.P.R.A.’s research into this case remains ongoing.

Referring to the photo shown here, Warren explained that “N.I.P.R.A. is very skeptical of orb type photos and we take pains to look for all possible natural explanations. When I took this particular photo, it was because I was getting a message from spirit to take one at this particular time in this particular spot.”  He added that they are 100% certain that there was no fog, mist, visible breath, or any smokers nearby that might account for the ectoplasm-like substance seen here. “In fact, it was visible when I was taking the photo,” Warren said. “Several others standing next to me saw the same thing. In fact, for a brief moment they actually glimpsed a fully formed apparition.”