Overlooking the still waters of Lower Lough Erne, the ruins of Tully Castle stand as a solemn reminder of one of the darkest chapters in Ulster’s Plantation history. Built between 1612 and 1615 for Scottish settler Sir John Hulme, the fortified house was intended to represent order, dominance, and colonial ambition in the early 17th century.

But on Christmas Eve 1641, Tully Castle became the site of a harrowing massacre. During the outbreak of the Irish Rebellion, Rory Maguire—an Irish rebel leader seeking to reclaim ancestral lands—arrived at the castle with armed men. With the castle’s usual defenders absent, it was largely occupied by women, children, and a small number of male servants and tenants. Lady Mary Hulme, believing she could protect those inside by yielding, surrendered the castle to Maguire. But her hopes were tragically misplaced. That night, nearly 60 women and children, along with over a dozen others, were brutally killed, and the castle was set ablaze. Though the Hulme family survived, they never returned. The building remains a ruin to this day.

Modern visitors report an unsettling atmosphere—particularly in the lead-up to Christmas. Ghostly figures have been seen moving silently among the ruins, and some have described hearing distant screams and the soft cries of children echoing through the grounds. One frequently reported apparition is that of a woman in early 17th-century dress, believed by many to be Lady Hulme herself, seen pacing the remnants of the great hall. Others have felt unexplained cold spots near the chapel ruins—one visitor even claimed to feel a small invisible hand tugging gently at her coat.

Paranormal reports at Tully Castle are not limited to the night. Even during daylight hours, tourists have described hearing disembodied voices and catching fleeting glimpses of shadowy figures near the towers and walls.