Blood curdling Loftus history told in panels
SEA battles, a 25 year court case and stories of the fall of great families all feature in a new visitor centre at Loftus Hall, which is in the process of being developed.
Speaking at the launch on Thursday, Anne Power of Loftus Hall said: ‘ The centre is a really exciting addition to our Loftus Hall house tour. We realised very early on that there is such an abundance of history and incredible characters associated with Loftus Hall, that it is going to be an ever-changing, continually up-dating, fluid resource.’
Tom Ó Morchoe, manager of the Tottenham Estates in New Ross, was on hand to officially declare the centre open. Ms Power said Mr Ó Morchoe represents a crucial connection to Loftus Hall via the Tottenham family, and the continued Marquis of Ely title line.
The newly established centre is open to all those who visit the hall, whether they are taking the extremely popular house tour, or taking a relaxing stroll in the historic walled gardens.
Panels in the centre and an audio track record the life and times of the Redmond, Loftus and Tottenham families in the house and more recently the Benedictine Nuns and Rosminian Order, right through to Loftus Hall Hotel’s owners Michael and Kay Devereux.
Ms Power said: ‘ There have been horrific and gruesome battles. There has been prosperity, bankruptcy, love triangles, one of the longest court battles in Irish history and so much more. It reads like the most incredible novel!’
She said the infamous Legend of Loftus Hall, featuring the devil, is the most popular tale associated with the hall, but the new visitors centre gives a greater understanding of some treasured nuggets from Loftus Hall’s past.
Loftus Hall is open weekends up until the June 18, when the gates open seven days a week until September 4.
The hall’s 666th anniversary birthday celebrations in July will be followed by the Waves Festival on August 28 for Fethard RNLI.