loftus hall

jessae86 · 28-08-2008 5:16pm

dib wrote: »

I wonder if there are any basement areas.

as far as i know there is a kind of chamber tunnel which is origional and still there from the old building (redmond Hall ) - before it was rebuilt and changed to Loftus hall

jessae86 · 28-08-2008 5:23pm

Mahatma coat wrote: »

Man if you think it looks cool form the outside you should see it inside. its absolutley fckn amazin, marble fireplaces in every room, even the bathrooms, coupled with a ducted heating system, the central grand italian marble staircase is breathtaking, the sculptures and paintings collected oer centuries, and it used to be a guesthouse for a while so it has a huge bar and resturaunt area, Actulay about ten to fifteen years ago one of the Bikerclubs in the area had their anual bash there, twas feckin brilliant, then theres the card room where the Quarefella himself is supposed to have shot through the ceiling after being caught out by some priestybloke, there's a stain in exactly the same spot on the ceiling in the room above and one appears in the floor under it, actualy if your lookin at the building from the front you may be able to see the section of tiles that 'they keep havin to replace' its about 5M in from the lefthandside and up about 2M (guestimate but its around there)

the gardens had gotten into a fair state of disrepair the last time I was there but care was still being take for the interior, God knows what its like now tho!

there are quite a few ghoststories about the place, when I get home tonight I'll have a spliff focus the aul head and try to get some of them down.

when were you in the house ?? did you sneak in or what ??? or were you let in ????

Oryx · 17-09-2008 12:47pm

Put in your bids, guys. Loftus is now on the market.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/commercialproperty/2008/0917/1221430290475.html

6th · 17-09-2008 12:55pm

Oryx wrote: »

Put in your bids, guys. Loftus is now on the market.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/commercialproperty/2008/0917/1221430290475.html

I'm playing the lotto this weekend. FACT.

Oryx · 17-09-2008 12:59pm

6th wrote: »

I'm playing the lotto this weekend. FACT.

Maybe if we all pool our pennies we could buy it as a syndicate...

Be interesting to see what a buyer does with it. Im glad to see it being sold tbh. Been left to rot for far too long.

jessae86 · 17-09-2008 1:38pm

Oryx wrote: »

Maybe if we all pool our pennies we could buy it as a syndicate...

Be interesting to see what a buyer does with it. Im glad to see it being sold tbh. Been left to rot for far too long.

OMG i cant belive its for sale !!! HOLY CRAP!!! I thought Mrs Deveraux was "never" going to sell it ???!!
What changed her mind i wonder...

Will a family buy it to live in or will it be turned into a hotel or something ???
Dose any1 have a copy of the doc By Rick Whelan "The Legand Of Loftas Hall " ???
Any1 know where a copy can be obtained ?????

Oryx · 17-09-2008 1:42pm

jessae86 wrote: »

OMG i cant belive its for sale !!! HOLY CRAP!!! I thought Mrs Deveraux was "never" going to sell it ???!!
What changed her mind i wonder...
Will a family buy it to live in or will it be turned into a hotel or something ???
Dose any1 have a copy of the doc By Rick Whelan "The Legand Of Loftas Hall " ???
Any1 know where a copy can be obtained ?????

I think thats the one they sell on video at the Hook Lighthouse museum.

aare · 17-09-2008 1:42pm

Just an idea, but if you really want to investigate the paranormal aspects, why not talk to Sherry Fitzgerald?

If it's not too bad inside (and, at least some of it must be ok) then it would be a great excuse for them to get press coverage for "selected excerpts" of the interior prior to sale.

They might go for it?

To be honest, however much Mrs Devereux loved it, in that location, it truly IS the personification of "bleak house" from the outside...

The only selling points ARE aspects of the interior - and the legend...

Just a thought anyway...no harm in a couple of people getting together to approach them?

PS. As it is for sale, I strongly suspect Mrs Devereux has finally "left the building"...but even 10 or so years ago she had no idea when she would run out of ways to avoid it a forced sale...lord knows how she did this long.

6th · 17-09-2008 1:48pm

Sherry Fitzgerald are just the selling agents and would have to approach the owners just like anyone else. Its seems they would not be willing to do this, and thats understandable.

jessae86 · 17-09-2008 2:15pm

Oryx wrote: »

I think thats the one they sell on video at the Hook Lighthouse museum.

THANKS FOR THAT ILL BE IN WEXFORD THIS WEEKEND SO I MIGHT GO GET A COPY...

jessae86 · 17-09-2008 2:17pm

aare wrote: »

Just an idea, but if you really want to investigate the paranormal aspects, why not talk to Sherry Fitzgerald?

If it's not too bad inside (and, at least some of it must be ok) then it would be a great excuse for them to get press coverage for "selected excerpts" of the interior prior to sale.

They might go for it?

To be honest, however much Mrs Devereux loved it, in that location, it truly IS the personification of "bleak house" from the outside...

The only selling points ARE aspects of the interior - and the legend...

Just a thought anyway...no harm in a couple of people getting together to approach them?

PS. As it is for sale, I strongly suspect Mrs Devereux has finally "left the building"...but even 10 or so years ago she had no idea when she would run out of ways to avoid it a forced sale...lord knows how she did this long.

you could always pretend you were interested in buying the property that way you would get the grand toor by the agency !!!!!

6th · 17-09-2008 2:33pm

Its going by Auction so thats not really an option.

Oryx · 17-09-2008 2:37pm

6th wrote: »

Its going by Auction so thats not really an option.

I reckon an auctioneer will show it to anyone who is interested. They dont actually know if youve got 10c or 10 mil to your name. Personally I wouldnt have the neck to try to get a viewing though.

I think SE Radio are going to do a show from there soon, because of the sale, and the notoriety of the building.

jessae86 · 17-09-2008 2:59pm

6th wrote: »

Its going by Auction so thats not really an option.

ye true !! Pity would be good fun though

aare · 17-09-2008 4:07pm

6th wrote: »

Sherry Fitzgerald are just the selling agents and would have to approach the owners just like anyone else. Its seems they would not be willing to do this, and thats understandable.

Ah but, approached the right way, Sherry Fitzgerald might be able to sell the OWNERS (or vendors, which I have a nasty suspicion may now be a bank of some sort) on the idea...

It's would be worth a 5 minute TV news slot...

6th · 17-09-2008 4:29pm

Well I've spoken to someone I know in there and there is no way it would happen. You're talking about a 5 minute slot that will as likely put off buyers than bring them in.

zebede · 17-09-2008 4:53pm

Just phoned up Sherry Fitz in Wexford

I've got a viewing Saturday @ 11am !

aare · 17-09-2008 5:03pm

6th wrote: »

Well I've spoken to someone I know in there and there is no way it would happen. You're talking about a 5 minute slot that will as likely put off buyers than bring them in.

Then you didn't talk to the right person, and someone else should try.

If the house and gardens were in fair condition.
If the location were not so bleak.
If the commercial history of the house was healthy.

THEN it would be more likely to put buyers off...but...as is, the best shot they have is using the legend to get publicity and using publicity to show off the best of the interior...because sadly, the house has literally nothing else to offer.

...and trust me, if a ghost hunt would put off potential buyers, Mrs Deveraux would have packed 'em in 3 deep.

Be more positive...like zebede...

aare · 17-09-2008 5:06pm

Oryx wrote: »

I think SE Radio are going to do a show from there soon, because of the sale, and the notoriety of the building.

AHA!!!

I spot an open window...someone should talk to south east radio...

6th · 17-09-2008 5:11pm

Sorry I'm just being realistic based on my experience in approaching locations and my many years of experiences in advertising for estate agents.

Anyway I have contact a potential buyer for this place and I know they will have an interest.

aare · 17-09-2008 5:59pm

6th wrote: »

Sorry I'm just being realistic based on my experience in approaching locations and my many years of experiences in advertising for estate agents.

No biggie, you were just wrong about this place...they are even letting SE radio in...

But, in fairness, it's a special case...a bit of a white elephant...

It's beautiful and huge, but not really even that old, people in that kind of residential market usually want something older, or smaller, and ALWAYS want a more sheltered and landscaped location (it's just on bare flat ground, open to the winds across Hook Head).

As a hotel it just never made the grade, and the location is a big part of that problem too.

The biggest problem is that the huge amount of money it would need to have spent on it would probably be enough to buy an equivalent older property in a better location that was ready to move in to.

It may go ridiculously cheap...in the end...

According to my informants at the time, if the bank could have sold it at a half realistic price, they would have forced the sale years ago.

discobrother · 17-09-2008 6:47pm

It will be interesting lads to see how this whole thing pans out. Just thinking if a load of us put in about 20k each we could buy it between us. Im up for it!! ha. It would just mean putting that next car purchase on hold.

Just found these few pics of some lads taking a closer look at the building

http://skin.bebo.com/PhotoAlbumBig.jsp?PageNbr=1&MemberId=257427450&PhotoAlbumId=5136543022&PhotoId=5136841065

Magical · 21-09-2008 2:53pm

zebede wrote: »

Just phoned up Sherry Fitz in Wexford

I've got a viewing Saturday @ 11am !

So how did it go??

Soby · 23-09-2008 6:23pm

Dunno if its old news that its been auctioned off on the 17th in the Brandon Hotel unless previously sold...has a price of 1.9m

Corrib · 24-09-2008 3:18pm

strangepaddy wrote: »

ya ur right the old hall has long been gone! ive read a fair bit about it.
The new buildin is really nice ....it should be done up or something

It's up for sale at the minute, you should buy it

Corrib · 24-09-2008 7:54pm

strangepaddy wrote: »

"here lies the body of Thomas Broaders,
.
Who did good and prayed for all.
.
And banished the Devil from Loftus Hall."

Anyone know where exactly this grave is?

He is buried in Horetown foulksmills Wexford

byhookorbycrook · 24-09-2008 8:03pm

Corrib wrote: »

He is buried in Horetown foulksmills Wexford

Ah, Horetown... we used to have great crack there with the horses..a pity to see the equestrian centre go.

Corrib · 24-09-2008 8:07pm

Soby wrote: »

Dunno if its old news that its been auctioned off on the 17th in the Brandon Hotel unless previously sold...has a price of 1.9m

Have you heard about the fierce woman who haunts the building? She is supposed to be that of the lady who died and the same girl who saw the guests cloven foot. I was in that place a few times and I guarantee you are in a seriously eerie building!!! The isolation justs adds to it. No amount of money is worth the fear.

abitlonely · 24-09-2008 9:05pm

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Ah, Horetown... we used to have great crack there with the horses..

Ye, great crack in Horetown and it's just down the road from Bastardstown

Corrib · 25-09-2008 6:14pm

Soby wrote: »

Dunno if its old news that its been auctioned off on the 17th in the Brandon Hotel unless previously sold...has a price of 1.9m

17th of which year??? Just gone on the market again! Same price range. It even has its own private beach!! View property pages online.

Crispychicken · 25-09-2008 7:59pm

The government should have purchashed loftus hall. If it was britain, it would be in the national trust and fully protected. But our govt doesnt seem too concerned with doing such things. Its all about getting votes for them. I really hope whoever does buy loftus hall does it justice and restores it to its former glory. And of course, be open for the public to view. It could make a lot of money as an attraction which would benefit tourism greatly around the area.

bola987 · 27-09-2008 12:37am

Some years ago when it was a hotel we went in for a drink. There was this strange woman there, who either owned or worked there, and she knew everything about us. Yet we never met her before. We were on holiday from England. Where is she now - that is what I would like to know? I heard Loftus hall is up for auction next month. Perhaps they will turn it into another Jamaica Inn (Cornwall) with lots of ghosts and stuff. That would be great if they do. With all those legends it would be a shame to let it go to waste.

bamboozle · 03-10-2008 12:52pm

my grandparents had a holiday home in fethard on sea which they sold in 1990 and i told her recently it was for sale, her sage response 'i was there once......never again' think it was a hotel or musuem at some stage she said but very eerie

capedcrustacian · 03-10-2008 12:56pm

bamboozle wrote: »

my grandparents had a holiday home in fethard on sea which they sold in 1990 and i told her recently it was for sale, her sage response 'i was there once......never again' think it was a hotel or musuem at some stage she said but very eerie

it was a hotel when i was in it, actually, if you go to the wexford page there are several posts on the matter.
it's really spooky to look at and there are more stories about the place too, not just about the devil, it would be awesome if tey re-opened as a hotel or even as a museum for the area, kinda like they did with the light house, just needs to be open to the public somehow, it's such an amazing place, gettin goosebumps just thinkin about it

maisymarshall · 08-10-2008 10:51pm

Tempelton wrote: »

Well, I can't really offer you any recent info I'm afraid. I am not even sure whether or not Michael's widow is still alive - although, if she is, she must feel quite vunreable if she is still living at the rather isolated hall.

For the record, all the stories above - about disembodied dogs and what not - are, of course, quite silly. I wil admit to trespassing there some years ago - not realising until closer inspection - that the place was obviously occupied. There were electric lights on in the front porch/reception area during the day - which suggested that perhaps someone was away at the time (or maybe was not concerned about day-to-day upkeep of the property).

Having since driven past there several times, but declined to intrude on private property, I will say that I have seen many gaggles of teenagers hanging around the entrance (which is near several more modern homes). No doubt, if Mrs Devereux is still living there, she must find this sort of attention rather unwelcoming.

Finally - expanding on what I wrote above - there is a priest, Sean Fortune, who was charged in a very high profile case here in Ireland (sorry, I don't know if you are in Ireland too) with abusing many kids. Without getting into detail, let me just sum it up by saying - the man was one of the most vile and disgusting abusers ever to have been caught. Anyway, Fortune went on to commit suicide when he was found out. An Irish Times journalist, Alison O'Connor, wrote a book about his crimes - called "Message from Heaven" - in which she alleged that Fortune, who was posted to the local parish of Fethard, used to take groups of kids to stay in the hall. This was very much in the days before Michael bought the hall - namely, it was when it was being run by a group of Catholic nuns. The book goes on to speak about a room referred to as "the Devil's Room", which is where Fortune committed his attacks.

If ever the devil did visit the hall, I would say it was in the form of Sean Fortune (not some hoof-footed urban legend).

Anyway, apart from that, there is one very good book I must try to dig out that deals pretty extensively with the Loftus Hall haunting story. It was written at the end of the 19th century and so is steeped in characteristic Victorian zeal for the paranormal and, as such, treats the story with far more seriousness than it currently receives. In the process the author manages to extract some interesting eyewitness accounts of alleged hauntings of the original "tapestry room" (again, remembering that this was in the original building - long since reconstructed).

Watch this space...

I eventually visited Loftus Hall earlier this year in May for the first time. WOW it was more than I could have imagined. My husband and I stayed in Wexford for a few days and did the, lets visit all my Dads old haunts kind of thing. We passed by Loftus Hall a few times on the way to the Hook Lighthouse, I was amazed at the lonely old thing, what a waste?!! We couldnt get up to the house only looked from the gate which was such a shame. An old lady in the gate house told us her son was looking after it for Mrs Devereux (who is still alive I may add) but has nothing to do with Michaels side of the family, my husband Shaun, the youngest of Thomas Devereux's family, Michaels brother. I felt like I wanted to scream as we would have loved to go and have a look inside. Kathleen should be proud of her house not trying to hide it away.(just incase anyone knows her). Anyway I undestand that its going to be sold by auction this month I only hope someone who deserves it gets it and takes care of it after all its a fab building and what a spot! I will visit it again sometime hopefully I will be able to go in and take a look around? The area is great and very beautiful my first visit to Southern Ireland and I'll be back. Thanks again. Take care Linda Devereux x

aare · 19-10-2008 4:10pm

Anybody know if it sold?

And, if so, what it fetched?

The property sites are not giving anything away...and I have a hunch that, on foot of the "credit crunch" situation, the only sane thing to do would be to postpone the sale, but I could be wrong?

Neal.D · 25-10-2008 8:42pm

Am a photographer and happened to past loftus hall, 2 summers ago on my way to hook lighthouse, i heard that it was an haunted lighthouse but the story was mixed up with Loftus, was fascinated by the house so took a look around it, never tried to get inside, would of been nice to see in that state though, went down last winter to take more pics of it, never got bothered by anyone, but have 2 pics from loftus on www.NealDavisPhotography.com if anyone wants to take a look, am only stundent but think i caught the essence of that place.

25-10-2008 10:17pm

Neal.D wrote: »

www.NealDavisPhotography.com

Beautful pics there in your gallery.
The one on the bench, is it the summit up in Howth.
Again, well done!

Green Hornet · 25-10-2008 10:27pm

aare wrote: »

Anybody know if it sold?

And, if so, what it fetched?

The property sites are not giving anything away...and I have a hunch that, on foot of the "credit crunch" situation, the only sane thing to do would be to postpone the sale, but I could be wrong?

I believe it failed to sell at auction but was bought afterwards. Rumour has it that Bono was the buyer but it's probably just a rumour.

Neal.D · 26-10-2008 1:56am

Cheers No Drama

It aint howth its out at Greystones. Hope who ever bought it turns it into
some good hotel or could have one of those murder mystery hotel things.

universe777 · 27-10-2008 1:16am

It's advertised again in today's (26/10/08) Sunday Times, not sure if it was an auction or not, €1.9m :eek:... a fool and their money are easily parted (or not so).

aare · 27-10-2008 9:14pm

Apparently the Hall was withdrawn from Auction at under €1million and sold to a "mystery buyer" on Monday 20th.

Loftus Hall sold to mystery buyer

tanababes · 03-11-2008 4:10pm

hi ya, yea me and my friends go down to loftus hall every few weeks we just love the trill and looking for a fright.... i would beleive in wat happened there... the lads daughter who lived there was ment to die in the house and is ment to haunt it still.... i would love to see the inside of it.....

Fighting Irish · 03-11-2008 4:19pm

Crispychicken wrote: »

The government should have purchashed loftus hall. If it was britain, it would be in the national trust and fully protected. But our govt doesnt seem too concerned with doing such things. Its all about getting votes for them. I really hope whoever does buy loftus hall does it justice and restores it to its former glory. And of course, be open for the public to view. It could make a lot of money as an attraction which would benefit tourism greatly around the area.

You want them to waste money on buying an old house?

blue42 · 03-11-2008 5:35pm

Fighting Irish wrote: »

You want them to waste money on buying an old house?

why not? they dont seem have any problem wasteing money on plenty of other things!:)

apathetic84 · 10-11-2008 9:51pm

sounds fascinating place

MrLoftus · 22-11-2008 3:12pm

Three nights spent in Loftus Hall back in the summer

The whole place was explored from top to bottom

Uploaded the photo sets on Flickr and Pix. Get them while you can!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32677070@N04/sets/72157609670380437/

http://pix.ie/mrloftus/album/330434

Regards,
Mr Loftus

Thomas_S_Hunterson · 22-11-2008 3:24pm

MrLoftus wrote: »

Three nights spent in Loftus Hall back in the summer

The whole place was explored from top to bottom

Uploaded the photo sets on Flickr and Pix. Get them while you can!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32677070@N04/sets/72157609670380437/

http://pix.ie/mrloftus/album/330434

Regards,
Mr Loftus

Nice one

Fighting Irish · 22-11-2008 3:44pm

MrLoftus wrote: »

Three nights spent in Loftus Hall back in the summer

The whole place was explored from top to bottom

Uploaded the photo sets on Flickr and Pix. Get them while you can!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32677070@N04/sets/72157609670380437/

http://pix.ie/mrloftus/album/330434

Regards,
Mr Loftus

Thanks

buttonteaser · 23-11-2008 1:19pm

i went there yesterday. its such a shame its closed up. i hear bono bought it. wheter its true iv no idea.

loftus hall

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