Loftus Hall....Ladyville House

The press up group that was behind it basic expanded too quickly and too many grand ideas on the go.

So Ladyville isn't happening the house will either be sold off to an other group or left vacant.

I was at an tourism event launching Ladyville and basically most people were skeptical with the grand hotel that was planned

Hopefully, intending to change the name "cursed" the project. History should be remembered as it was told and respected for what it is. If new history comes to light then history can be amended; even changed, but shouldn't be obfuscated or glossed over, especially for commercial gain. The current building is over 250 years old and its name and basic structure should come under heritage protection. Even for commercial reasons, wanting to change its name would be misguided as many would seek it out because they know the name and need to experience it.

Whether the spooky tales are true, the house has historical significance to the region and throughout Ireland as one of the most storied homes in the country. Regardless of whether the project resumes under whoever's tenure in the future, the famed name should be respected and retained (Loftus Hall, or as a hotel: Loftus Hall Hotel, or Loftus Hall, Spa & Hotel).

On Facebook someone commented some weeks ago they did a tour of Hook Head Lighthouse in summer 2024, and according to their claim, the guide on the tour said there was a dispute over the potential renaming of the house "and builders downed tools". It is not clear if this dispute, if it is true, was from the workers, locals or at the civic level.

Another unverified comment claimed the owner ran out of funds.

Recently drove past the closed front road gate in late November, 2024. Project looks paused or stopped: no signs; no vehicles; no movement, during a weekday.

Loftus Hall, as it will continue to be called by everyone, remains closed.

The craftsman made three similar staircases, one in Loftus Hall, one on the Titanic, and there is one in The Vatican.

Have always loved the Loftus Hall legend and folklore myself, but you're correct about never letting the truth get in the way of a good story. Two other things spring to mind:

Shortly after it opened as a "haunted house" attraction, I was involved in a project that saw me having a tour of the place with the then owner. As we passed the main entrance, he said it was the doorway that the mysterious stranger walked through. I pointed out it was a completely different building at the time. Quick as a flash, he replied yes, that may be, but they'd discovered drawings of the previous house that showed the main doorway stood in exactly the same place. That was lucky, eh?

The second involved another very fortunate discovery, as in 2016, they apparently found old records that showed a dwelling of some sort had stood there since exactly the year 1350. That allowed them to celebrate a very devil-ish "666 Years of History at Loftus Hall" - https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/ireland/loftus-hall-irelands-most-haunted-house-celebrates-666th-anniversary/34525214.html

Good marketing all right. Maybe not so good from a historical accuracy point of view!