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Loftus Hall, near Templetown, Co. Wexford

Loftus Hall was built by the 4th Marquis of Ely in 1870-1871 on the ruins of Redmond Hall, which had existed since 1350. Redmond Hall became the property of the Loftus family in 1666, and afterwards the old mansion became known as Loftus Hall. It was notorious for being haunted, but the spirits were successfully exorcised by Fr. Thomas Broaders in the 18C. It is a three-storey mansion with a nine bay front. It has a balustraded parapet. One of the features of the mansion is a magnificent hand-carved oak staircase. It was occupied by the Benedictines from 1917 to 1935, and by the Rossminians (Sisters of Providence) from 1937 until 1983, when it became a hotel. (Information kindly provided by Gerard Taafe)