Mike Murphy investigates claims of paranormal activity by spending a night in Marlay House in the Dublin suburb of Rathfarnham.
Marlay Park is a suburban public park located in Rathfarnham, County Dublin. Located in the parkland is the Georgian style mansion Marlay House, also known as 'The Grange'. There have been reports of mysterious sounds, voices and manifestations in and around the building,
It has been said that a previous owner long since dead has been sighted regularly both in the grounds and in the house.
To investigate the claims of paranormal phenomena, Mike Murphy enlists the help of author, lecturer and researcher Shelia St Clair. They prepare for an all night vigil in Marlay House in the hope of witnessing some eerie manifestations first hand.
Shelia St Clair debunks the myth that psychic manifestations only take place in old buildings. She has investigated occurrences in new houses, flats, caravans and even in a ladies toilet.
Shelia St Clair decides to set up headquarters for the vigil in the oval room of Marlay House. During an exploration of the remainder of the house, she finds a cold spot, a potential sign of paranormal entities.
Microphones are set up in various parts of the house to record any extraneous sounds. A room is sealed off using strips of paper and sellotape. If the door is opened the paper will rip if anything comes out the room. Talcum powder is scattered on the floor to further highlight disturbances.
Shelia St Clair warns against the use of table tapping, Ouija boards and seances by amateurs. Such activities are not parlour games and are potentially dangerous for sensitive people.
At 10:30 pm Mike Murphy and Shelia St Clair check the seals on the doors and the talcum powder, but nothing is disturbed. By the end of their stakeout, nothing untoward is found. Mike Murphy feels relieved but also disappointed.
Shelia St Clair is not demoralised by this outcome,
It’s one of the hazards of investigating a haunted house.
She believes paranormal activity may have occurred in areas not under surveillance, or they simply held the experiment on the wrong night.
‘The Likes of Mike’ ran on RTÉ Television between 1972 and 1977. The programme featured regular musical guests and comedy sketches. This item was filmed in August 1976.
This episode of ‘The Likes of Mike’ was broadcast on 8 February 1977.
