Scéaltaí Taibhsí Corcach

An Cóiste agus na Capaill

Corkagh House

Photo of Corkagh House

Corkagh House

Corkagh House

Photo of Corkagh House

Enlarge image

Gar do Theach Chorcach bhí Teach Newlands. Chónaigh Arthur Wolfe (1739-1803) ann, tráth. Ba é Príomh-Bhreitheamh na hÉireann é, agus bhí mar theidil air Bíocúnta Kilwarden nó Tiarna Kilwarden. Bhí muintir Mhic Fhionnlaoich as Corcach mar chomharsana aige.

Le linn Éirí amach Roibeáird Emmet sa bhliain 1803, chuala an Coirnéal John Finlay iomrá go rabhthas ag beartú an Tiarna Kilwarden a mharú. Dá bharr sin d'impigh sé ar an dTiarna gan dul go Baile Átha Cliath.

Nor bhac an Tiarna Kilwarden lena chomhairle agus d'imigh go dtí an chathair mar a bhí beartaithe aige. Chuaigh a iníon, Elizabeth Wolfe agus a nia, an t-Oirmhinneach Richard Straubenzie Wolfe in éineacht leis. D'fhág siad Eastáit Chorcach tríd an cúl-gheata, gar do Bhóthar Naomh Eoin, mar atá inniu, agus thug siad a n-aghaidh ar Bhaile Átha Cliath. Ar a mbealach go dtí Caisleán Áth Cliath, gar do Shráid Thomáis, d'ionsaigh grúpa ceannairceach an carráiste. Tarraingíodh an Tiarna Kilwarden agus a nia amach as an gcóiste agus sáthadh arís agus arís eile iad le pící.

Fuair an t-Oirmhinneach Wolfe bás láithreach, ach bhí a uncail beo fós nuair a tháinig buíon saighdiúirí ar an láthair. Tugadh isteach i dteach a bhí in aice láimhe é, ach fuair sé bás tar éis uair a chloig. D'Éirigh lena iníon éalú, gan dochar, ón achrann agus thug an t-aláram uaithi.

Tar éis do na ceannaircigh cóiste an Tiarna Kilwarden a ionsaí, d'imigh na capaill scanraithe ar cosa in airde ar ais go Corcach. Chuaigh siad isteach tríd an cúl-gheata, síos an príomh-aibhinne leo agus amach go Teach Newlands. Bhí sé mar chuid de sheanchas mhuintir Mhic Fhionnlaoich gur chuala siad, ó am go h-am, capaill agus cóiste ag imeacht ar cosa in airde trí Eastáit Chorcach. Ní fhaca aon duine riamh iad, ámh.

An Sí-Bhanna Ceoil

Le linn Éirí Amach na Cásca 1916, bhí Maor Gerald Colley, deartháir-chéile Mrs Edith (ní Fhionnlaoich) Colley as Corcach, bhí sé ar stáisiun i gCaisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath. An lá roimh Dhomhnach Cásca chuir sé glaoch guthán ar a bhean chéile. D'inis sé di go raibh trioblóid ar tí briseadh amach idir na náisiúntóirí Éireannacha agus na h-údaráis.

Tharla an t-Éirí Amach maidin Luain Chásca. Chuaigh bean an Mhaoir go Caisleán Bhéalgaird, in éineacht le cara léí, chun breathnú uathu ar dhroichid Bhaile Átha Cliath agus iad trí thine. Idir an dá linn, bhí Mrs Edith Colley ag siúl in éineacht lena fear céile, George P.A. Colley, trí Eastáit Chorcach, nuair a chuala sí banna ceoil míleata ag máirseáil go torannach síos Bóthar Nás, agus isteach trí chúl-gheata Chorcach.

D'fhill siad faoi dheifir ar ais go dtí an teach. Bhí foireann iomlán an tí bailithe le chéile go faiteach ós comhair an tí. Bhí ceol an bhanna cloiste acu sin chomh maith agus cheap siad go n-ionsófai an teach gan mhoill. Stop an ceol go tobann, áfach, agus ní raibh tada as an ngnáth le sonrú. Ainneoin an méid daoine a chuala an banna, ní fhaca aon duine é.

Corkagh House Ghost Stories

The Coach and Horses

Near to Corkagh House was Newlands House. This was at one time occupied by Arthur Wolfe (1739-1803), 1st Viscount Kilwarden, or Lord Kilwarden as he was better known, the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. He was a good neighbour of the Finlay family of Corkagh.

During Robert Emmet's Rising of 1803, Colonel John Finlay, hearing of a planned attempt on the life of Lord Kilwarden, sent for him and pleaded with him not to travel into Dublin City.

Lord Kilwarden decided not to listen to this advice, and proceeded as intended accompanied by his daughter, Elizabeth Wolfe, and his nephew Reverend Richard Straubenzie Wolfe. They left the Corkagh Estate by the back entrance, near to the present day St. John's Road, and headed off towards Dublin City for Dublin Castle. Near Thomas Street, their carriage was ambushed by a number of insurgents, and both Lord Kilwarden and his nephew were dragged from their coach and were repeatedly stabbed with pikes.

The Reverend Wolfe died immediately from his wounds but his uncle was still alive when soldiers arrived on the scene. He was brought to a nearby building but died an hour later. His daughter Elizabeth managed to escape unhurt and helped to raise the alarm about what had happened.

After the insurgents ambushed Lord Kilwarden's coach, his terrified horses galloped back the way they had come, and entered Corkagh Estate through the back entrance and out the front drive to Newlands House. Over the years, members of the Finlay family claim to have heard the sounds of a coach and horses rushing through Corkagh Estate: however, neither coach nor horses could ever be seen.

The Phantom Band

During the Easter Rising of 1916, Major Gerald Colley, a brother-in-law of Mrs Edith (née Finlay) Colley of Corkagh, was stationed in Dublin Castle, and his wife lived in Corkagh. On the day before Easter, the Major telephoned his wife to tell her that there was some trouble brewing between the Irish nationalists and the British authorities.

On Easter Monday, the Rising took place, and the Major's wife, along with a friend, went to Belgard Castle to watch the burning bridges in the city of Dublin. Meanwhile, Mrs. Edith Colley, whilst walking with her husband, George P. A. Colley, through Corkage Estate, heard a marching band playing and the sound of tramping feet marching down the Naas Road and through the rear gate of Corkagh.

They hurried back to the house to find the entire staff anxiously gathered at the front of the house. All had heard the band, and they thought that Corkagh was going to be attacked. However the music suddenly stopped and there was nothing to be seen. Despite the large number of people who heard the band, no one saw it.