When he put the property – which overlooks Hook peninsula and the landmark Hook lighthouse – on the market earlier this year, agents Colliers were guiding €4.5m for it. But they are now guiding €3m.
Mr McKillen Jr’s development company, Oakmount, is reported to have paid €1.75m for the manor-style house and 68 acres in 2022 and spent millions more on its restoration, with plans to transform it into a luxurious boutique hotel.
Reputed to be Ireland’s most haunted house, it comprises a detached nine-bay, three-storey house with a total gross internal area of 2,460 sqm (26,487 sqft).
Mr McKillen Jr has a passion for refurbishment of old properties and has revamped a number of Dublin hospitality venues in recent years.
At Loftus Hall, he has brought phase one of an ambitious redevelopment to near completion with the creation of 22 upstairs bedrooms, restored the roof, replastered the façade and built a new bar and restaurant.
He also undertook plans for phase two offering an additional 56-bedroom hotel wing, a spa and fitness centre, dedicated wedding venues, 33 standalone garden cottages, and 10 eco pods positioned throughout the grounds.
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – June 26th
The building dates back to 1870 and the site dates back to Redmond Hall, which traces its history to 1350. It is named after the Loftus family who undertook extensive renovations in anticipation of a visit by Queen Victoria which never happened.
In 1890, the last remaining member of the Loftus family died, and the estate was put up for sale. It was later operated as a convent by the Sisters of Providence and then between the 1980s and late 1990s as the Loftus Hall Hotel.
In 2011, the property was acquired by the Quigley family and opened to the public as a tourist attraction centred on its ghostly reputation.
The launch of the haunted tours proved very popular at the time, given that many ghost stories have passed from one generation to the next with alleged horrific events that seemingly took place within its four walls.
According to storyteller Kieran Fanning in his book Haunted Ireland: An Atlas of Ghost Stories from Every County, one 18th century story relates to Lady Anne Tottenham who, while playing cards there, discovers the man she is playing with has cloven feet. For months afterwards, Anne is haunted by the devil but he is eventually exorcised by a Fr Thomas Broaders.
It was speculated that Anne’s father may have put out the story of the devil to keep the locals away and to stop them from discovering that Anne was pregnant.
source