Loftus Hall
| Loftus house | |
|---|---|
| Halla na Loftus | |
Loftus Hall, March 2007
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| Former names | The Hall, Redmond's Hall |
| General information | |
| Location | Hook Head, County Wexford |
| Country | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°08′55″N 6°54′38″W / 52.1487168°N 6.9105639°WCoordinates: 52°08′55″N 6°54′38″W / 52.1487168°N 6.9105639°W |
| Elevation | 8 metres (26 ft) |
| Opened | 1350 |
| Owner | Niamh O'Shaughnessy |
Loftus Hall is a large mansion house on the Hook peninsula, County Wexford, Ireland. Built on the site of the original Redmond Hall, it is said by locals to have been haunted by the devil and the ghost of a young woman.
In about 1170, Raymond Le Gros accompanied Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, to Ireland. He acquired certain lands in County Wexford on which he built The Hall, at Houseland near Portersgate. The Redmond family replaced their original castle with another in about 1350, during the time of the Black Death. This second castle was also known as The Hall or Redmond Hall.
In 1642, the future Loftus Hall – then still known as Redmond's Hall – was attacked by English soldiers loyal to Charles I of England. The Irish Confederate Wars had broken out in 1641 and hostilities commenced in Wexford in 1642. An English garrison of around 100 men under the command of Lord Esmonde was based at Duncannon Fort on Waterford Harbour. On 23 February, this garrison was reinforced by a further 200 soldiers under the command of Captain Anthony Weldon and Captain Thomas Aston along with six cannon.
On 19 June a party of these soldiers from the fort were attacked by a group of Irish Confederates under the command of Captain Rossiter and Major James Butler at Shielbaggan while on their way to Tintern. The English were routed and driven back to the fort. Redmond's Hall was clearly visible to the beleaguered garrison at Duncannon. The Hall's owner, Alexander Redmond, was known to be sympathetic to the rebels. The Hall was known as a place that gave assistance to the rebels. Captain Aston believed it could be easily taken and on 20 July 1642 took ship from Duncannon with around ninety men and two small cannon, landing near the Hall.
Although he was sixty-eight years old, Alexander Redmond barricaded the Hall and prepared to defend it. He was assisted by his sons, Robert and Michael, some of their tenants, two men at arms and an itinerant tailor who happened to be at work in the Hall when the attack took place. The defenders numbered ten in all and were armed with long barrelled fowling pieces. Captain Aston drew his men up in front of the Hall and demanded admission in the name of the King. Alexander Redmond retorted that Aston was welcome to come in provided only that he left his soldiers and weapons outside. A lengthy gun battle ensued. Aston discovered that his cannon were too small to make much impression on the main door. To add to his troubles about half his men abandoned him to pillage the countryside. As the fight dragged on a heavy sea-mist descended on the Hook Peninsula.
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Wikipedia