Historical haunted house tour set to lift the spirits

The “most haunted house in Ireland” is taking terror to a new level by launching an interactive tour in time for Halloween.

Visitors to Loftus Hall on Hook Head can choose an evening-time over-21s-only version of the tour but the Halloween Quest Tour is open for all family members during the day with a caveat — you may enter of your own free will but only the Hall will decide if you’re allowed to leave.

The nine-bay mansion house on the Hook Peninsula in Co Wexford near Hook Lighthouse, boasts an elaborate tale of gruesome history and a life of strife and dereliction dating back to around 1350.

According to the hall’s owner Aidan Quigley, “the new tour last 60 minutes and features actors throughout the tour playing the roles of noted historical figures from Loftus Hall’s dim and murky past”.

Meanwhile, down the road at the 800-year-old Hook Lighthouse and located in the graveyard of 1,000 ships, there will be no shortage of spooky tales. During Halloween, the lighthouse runs ghostly tours, taking visitors up the 115 steps to the original keepers’ quarters. With hanging spiders and creepy nooks and crannies, this is not for the faint-hearted.

Haunting happenings also on offer across the southeast this week include:

* The Park After Dark which takes place at the Heritage Park outside Wexford town from Oct 25 to Nov 2.

* Fright at the Museum which takes place at the Irish Agricultural Museum at Johnstown Castle from Oct 27 to 28.