Spectral phenomena expected at Loftus Hall’s Halloween experience!

For many of us Halloween conjures up images of trick or treating, dressing in ghoulish costume, pumpkin carving or bobbing for apples!

However, these contemporary Halloween activities are based on practices dating back to the darker origins of Halloween, or Samhain.  Around 2,000 years ago in Celtic Ireland, Samhain was the division of the year between summer and winter.  During Samhain, the divide between this world and other domains was at its thinnest which gave spirits greater opportunity to pass through to this world.

Loftus Hall, in Co. Wexford, will celebrate Samhain, and as Ireland’s most haunted house, you can expect to experience some eerie encounters and hear some ghostly tales from Loftus Hall’s past.

Nestled on the Hook Peninsula in Co. Wexford in barren and austere surroundings, Loftus Hall’s heritage dates back 665 years to 1350. It is now a magnet for tourists, historians, and paranormal enthusiasts, who continue to document evidence of frequent paranormal activity in the house. Highlighting some of this activity, Loftus Hall will feature on TV3 this Halloween, with a fascinating account of an Irish Ghost Hunters Investigation.

According to Aidan Quigley, Owner of Loftus Hall, Loftus Hall is a very special, but unpredictable, place to be during Samhain. “We observe strange phenomena in the house throughout the year, but at Halloween, the house often surprises us.”

 “At Loftus Hall, there is no need for overstated gory props or effects.  The house has a very twisted and tortured history, and so naturally speaks for itself. We have had reports from many ghost hunting groups and spectre seekers who recount rather unsettling results, such as significant temperature drops, particularly in the Chapel and Tapestry Room, and spikes in electro-magnetic fields, indicating an unseen energy source. Visitors to Loftus Hall continually experience and qualify these findings, and many encounter things that they can’t quite explain.”

The Loftus Hall Samhain Tours open to the public from October 17^th and visitors should expect some strange and inexplicable goings-on.

It’s not only ghost hunters who have documented ethereal activities at Loftus Hall.  Following last year’s viral “ghost photo” which hit the international headlines when tourist Thomas Beavis snapped what appeared to be a ghostly apparition in the porch way of the Hall, another visitor to Loftus Hall, Tara McMeel also captured some strange ghostly apparitions in a “selfie” shot.

The continuous visitor feedback regarding unnatural experiences, and tangible captures of evidence such as this, keeps world-wide curiosity rife about Loftus Hall and its ominous past.

Mr. Quigley revealed, “Without giving too much away about the newly designed family or adult Samhain tours, I can confirm they will both feature the re-enactment of the much heralded, infamous “dark stranger” episode.  Charles Tottenham Loftus, the then custodian of the Hall in the 18^th century, invited a stranger to play cards.  During the card game, as his daughter Anne who was captivated by this stranger, bent to retrieve a fallen playing card, she discovered that the invited guest had cloven hooves.  The stranger flew into a fiery rage, crashing through the roof leaving in his wake a smell of sulphur and brimstone, and the very same roof has been irreparable ever since. This Legend is synonymous with Loftus Hall, and is a fundamental part of the houses spectral history.”

If you want to experience Samhain in an authentic haunted house, Loftus Hall Hall’oween tours commence from October 17^th with a range of family tours each day, adult night tours on October 24^th, 25^th, 30^th and 31^st, and the ultimate Halloween Paranormal Investigation Lockdown on the 7^th November.

To find out more about the Daily Halloween Tours, Adult Night tours, or the Loftus Hall Halloween Lockdown at Loftus Hall visit www.loftushall.ie or call 051 397728.

Loftus Hall set to reawaken 665 years of history

Irish Ghost Hunters; Tim Kelly, Tina Barcoe, Ruth Algera and Wayne Bolger

With almost 666 years of history that has intrigued, spooked and unsettled even the most hardened cynics, Ireland’s most haunted house, Loftus Hall, will reopen to the public tomorrow, March 28^th  following its winter hiatus.

Nestled on the Hook Peninsula in Co. Wexford in barren and austere surroundings, Loftus Hall which has stood on the site since 1350, is not just a mecca for paranormal enthusiasts, but for families, tourists and locals. In fact, many visitors to the area are intrigued to find out more about Hook Head’s incredible heritage and colourful history.

Aidan Quigley, owner of Loftus Hall, is busy preparing for the opening, “From previous years, we know that there is great interest in the Hall, its history, its stories and the mysterious events.”

“There has been a lot of inexplicable activity on the site.  Obviously the most heralded story is that of the “stranger” who was invited to play cards by the then owner, Charles Tottenham Loftus, in the 18^th century.  When his daughter Anne bent to retrieve a fallen playing card, she discovered that the invited guest had cloven hooves.  The stranger flew into a fiery rage, crashing through the roof leaving in his wake a smell of sulphur and brimstone, and the very same roof has been irreparable ever since.”

Last year Loftus Hall hit the international headlines once again, when tourist Thomas Beavis snapped what appeared to be a ghostly apparition in the window of the Hall.  The figures, believed to be that of Anne Tottenham who discovered the cloven hoof of the card playing stranger, and an old lady went viral igniting world-wide curiosity about Loftus Hall and its eerie past.

Aidan added, “While the Hall was closed we undertook some repairs and general maintenance over the last few months.  Even though most of the work was carried out smoothly and seamlessly, there have been a few strange goings-on such as light bulbs not working and frosty temperature drops in certain areas of the house.”

Ahead of the reopening, a group of paranormal investigators took a journey through Loftus Hall.  The Irish Ghost Hunters are a team of spectre seekers, which investigates haunted locations throughout Ireland and further afield.

As part of a TV documentary, IGH visited the Wexford demesne and their findings were somewhat disquieting.  Location Manager and Lead Investigator with IGH, Tina Barcoe recounted some of the team’s findings.  “The team used practical hand-held devices which register temperature and energy readings.  There were major temperature drops, particularly in the Chapel and the Tapestry Room.  We also registered significant spikes in the electro-magnetic fields in some areas of the house, which indicates that something, an energy source, was close by.  We also heard tapping noises within rooms that we were investigating and responses on our K2 meter (EMF) which seemed to be in connection to our questions.”

Tina added “The team in general got an unsettling feeling, and our investigation left us with more questions than answers.  We’re certainly looking forward to coming back again to see if these phenomena can be explained.”

Loftus Hall opens to the public on March 28^th and guided tours are available from 12pm to 5pm.  The tour takes 45 minutes, combining the history and legend of Loftus Hall in an entertaining, informative and interactive package.

To find out more about the House Tour, Nightfall at Loftus or the Loftus Lockdown visit www.loftushall.ie or call 051 397728.