About Us
Sharon Rectory is a wonderful and mysterious mansion that holds many of unnerving and dark secrets. This wonderful building was built in 1775 and stands among the beautiful countryside of Manorcunningham in Co. Donegal Ireland. The house took over fifteen years to fully construct and was the Church of Ireland Rectory to the parish of Ray.
When a devastating double murder took place on the property in March 1797, the former Lady of the house Sara Waller was caught in the crossfire during a vendetta against their house guest Reverend William Hamilton and the United Irishmen. Sadly, they both lost their lives during the siege upon the Rectory.
While the Tully family purchased the property in the 1990's, little did they know that their lives would change forever. Author Emma Louise Tully, writes about the spine-chilling paranormal events in her novel The Haunting of Sharon Rectory.
Help! My House is Haunted, Season 5
The terrifying hauntings of Sharon Rectory is now available to watch on season 5, episode 3 of Help! MY House is Haunted.
Streaming on Discovery + UK now!
Lisa Tully
Emma Louise Tully
Help! My House is Haunted
Hostage to the Devil Podcast
Brought to you by Causeway Pictures, the Hostage to the Devil Podcast has released 4 episodes based on The Haunting of Sharon Rectory.
See below for each episode.
Episode 12
Episode 13
Episode 14
Sharon Rectory Gallery
When Vincent and Lisa Tully bought the property beginning of 1995, the house was in total ruins. Here are some photographs of Sharon before they began renovations.
Dining Room
Patio Hallway
Reception Hallway
Living Room
The Fairy corner
Pull up a pew
Relax and chill
Archway to Narnia
The Haunting of Sharon Rectory
This 200-year-old Georgian Rectory is a sight to behold. But what secrets, spirits and ghosts lurk behind?
When the Tully family purchased this magnificent building in the 1990s they had big restoration dreams. Little did they know their lives were about to change forever.
This fascinating book is based on the author’s 22-year diary. She shares intriguing insights into the paranormal activity and eerie occurrences the family have encountered. She details the network of psychic supporters they have called on to help with their unconventional plight and explains why this close-knit family are not prepared to leave their beautiful home.
Sharon Rectory is haunted by the lost souls of its former residents and they aren’t prepared to go quietly either. ‘The Blue Lady’, one such ghost, is thought to be the murder victim of the original owner, Sara Waller. A dark, malevolent spirit also occupies the rectory too. This powerful demonic presence plagues the family and wreaks havoc as its identity is gradually uncovered.
Part historical/part modern day true ghost story, the author writes of her family’s terror and their physical and mental torment as they try to maintain some semblance of normal family life at Sharon Rectory. Not for the faint of heart, this real and raw memoir of life among the paranormal will have you completely hooked from the very beginning.
Author's personal note:
This story reopened old wounds as I dive into my past and openly talk about my experiences with the supernatural. I confront the controversial topic of the paranormal as I tell the true events we must face while living in Sharon Rectory. Over the twenty-two years, myself and my family have kept a diary on the strange occurrences that we have encountered in our home. To constantly live in fear of the unseen is a curse, but to overcome those challenges together is a blessing.
Subscribe to the Sharon Rectory YouTube channel to watch episodes of The Haunting of Sharon Rectory and previous paranormal investigations.
Emma Louise speaks with Film and Television Director Marty Stalker on the Hostage to the Devil podcast developed by Causeway Pictures and Underground films.
Available on all podcast streaming platforms.
AFEARED- Episode one: Murder and Rebellion
The story of Sharon Rectory's horrific past of murder and rebellion aired on BBC Two Northern Ireland on February 2021.
History
Sharon Rectory is a stunning structure built in 1775 situated between the small villages of Newtowncunningham and Manorcunnningham in Co. Donegal Ireland. This historical building holds a dark past of murder and rebellion. The rectory which once housed the Dr Reverend John Waller and his Wife Sarah Waller. From my research, Mr. Waller was a fellow at Trinity College and was deemed a highly valued man within his field. As a respected and loving family, the Wallers brought great peace and security to their parishioners in their parish of Ray.
Mr. Waller was supposedly paralyzed and was cared for by his loving wife and trusty servant Barney McCafferty.
William Hamilton, Rector and Minister of Fanad, was a fellow colleague and friend of Mr. Waller. Hamilton studied geology and meteorology and was one of the lead geologists on the studies of the Giants Causeway in the Northern coast of Antrim. In 1790 he was appointed Rector of Clondavaddog in Fanad in Co. Donegal. While Hamilton voiced his political interpretations on British rule it caused uproar in the Irish community. In 1792 Hamilton signed a vigorous attack on republicanism, by then his pro-British views was no longer being tolerated in the Irish community which targeted him for assassination. In the beginning of February 1797 there was an unsuccessful attack within his vicarage which led Hamilton living in constant fear for his life. While he knew his political views caused dispute and his life was at risk, he employed soldiers to personally guard him for his security.
On the 2nd of March 1797, the Rev William Hamilton traveled with his armed guard from Lifford to the Lough Swilly so he could cross back to his parish of Fanad. As he traveled the long trek, he noticed as he drew close the boats men huddled around as they glanced at his course. When he reached the boat, the men turned Hamilton and his associate due to the bad weather approaching. As the night sky fell, they needed somewhere to stay until morning. Hamilton realized he was a few miles from his former colleague and friend Dr. John Waller at Sharon Glebe. As they made their way to Sharon, Hamilton was unknowingly awaiting his horrific end. The united men hid in the shadows watching them from a distance, discussing their plan of action. They intended on the element of surprise, getting him when he least expected. While Mr. and Mrs. Waller welcomed Rev Hamilton into the Rectory, and they made their way into the sunroom.
Suddenly, they heard upheaval from afar. The Wallers, who were unaware of Hamilton’s current ‘wanted’ status with the United Irishmen, were oblivious to the siege that lay awaiting below the Glebe. The angry mob came in their numbers chanting for Hamilton, thirsty for his blood. As the Wallers and Hamilton stood unguarded and in fear, the men took blinded shots through the windows hoping they would hit Hamilton in the process. Mrs Waller, in fear for their lives, tried grabbing anything that came to hand to shield her and her husband from the gunfire. As the men continued to shoot through the windows, they hit Mrs Waller on the shoulder grazing it. Then again on the ear. Rev Hamilton had long fled from the room taking shelter behind the cellar door. Lady Waller crawled to the hallway screaming for help. The servants dragged her down into the servant’s quarters and wept by her side as she drew her last breath.
The United Irishmen shouted they would burn the house to the ground if they didn’t surrender the Reverend. The Wallers cook, Mrs Squire, searched for Hamilton through the lower level of the house before finding him hiding in the cellar. She dragged him to the doorway where the united men surrounded. As he was pulled through the hallway towards the patio doorstep, he grabbed hold of the staircase banister and held it for his life. The men came into the house and held a hot iron to his hands until he sniveled and loosened his grip. He was dragged out to the doorstep and beaten so badly he was unrecognizable. As military men approached on horseback, they shouted to the siege for their victim. The men pointed under their horses feet as Hamilton’s lifeless body lay in shards.
As Rev Hamilton’s wife and their nine children mourned him, his Irish neighbors celebrated their great victory. Mrs Waller was laid to rest in her parish of Ray, leaving behind her beloved husband, loyal servants and saddened communal. As for the United Irishmen, after the Rebellion of 1798 most of the men fled overseas to America.
Film & TV Productions
Did you know, Sharon Rectory has featured in the following TV series?
BBC's True North: The Formal
BBC's The Lang Hame
BBC's Afeared- Murder and Rebellion
Articles, Interviews & Videos
Yahoo!:
Sharon Rectory and Paranormal Investigators Ireland featured in Yahoo's! Scariest stories of 2019 alongside ghostly encounters at Zak Bagan's Haunted Museum and one of America's most haunted homes.
Magazines:
Sharon Rectory has featured in The Real Paranormal Magazine- Article written by Emma Louise Tully
Highland Radio:
Lisa, Victoria and Emma Louise Tully joined Greg Hughes on Highland Radio to talk about their ghostly experiences living in Sharon Rectory.
On a follow up interview, Emma Louise and Kate Houston talks on the Greg Hughes show about the book The Haunting of Sharon Rectory.
Newstalk:
Emma Louise was invited onto Newstalk to discuss her book The Haunting of Sharon Rectory and some of her ghostly experiences from living in the house.
YouTube Videos:
Check out the first ever paranormal investigation in Sharon Rectory with Team Paranormal Ulster filmed back in 2013.
Sharon Rectory featured No1 in Slapped Ham's YouTube video "Must see Ghost Sightings captured in Ireland"
Click here to watch the video
Watch Emma Louise's interview with Age of Darkness podcast
Real Life Ghost Stories
Podcasts
Emma Louise tells her story about encounters growing up with The Blue Lady.
Listen now: Snap Judgment Presents: Spooked- The Blue Lady
Listen Now to more: Emma Louise Tully Podcasts