The ruins of Louth Hall are powerfully striking when they come into view as you make your way along the main road from Ardee into the village of Tallanstown, however the side road that leads down to the castle is trickier to spot so follow the link on the google map for the easiest route.. The ruins at Louth Hall essentially comprise of two adjoining castles. The original Gothic style tower house was built circa 1350 with the later Georgian section added much later in around 1760. The house and surrounding lands appear to have been under the control of the Plunkett family from the 1500s right up until the early part of the twentieth century but may have been in their hands since the original Gothic tower house was constructed . Over their time at Tallanstown the Plunketts appear to have fluctuated between being supporters of a royalist regime in Ireland however on the other hand showing more nationalist tendencies exemplified by allowing the infamous Oliver Plunkett to hide in the castle while British troops were searching for him. The last Plunkett left the house in 1950 and sadly the structure suffered heavily in a fire around the turn of the millennium leaving the ruins of the two castles and outbuildings to the cattle that now roam the site.
GPS: 53.91223, -6.55301
Well it must have been quite a stunner in its day. What a shame to see an old place like that going into such a poor decline, although you’d need bottomless pockets to restore it I’m sure.
my grand parents were house keeper and butler there,if any one has anything refering to them iwould love to see it, they were henry loughran and catherine (ellen)
Just saw this. My grandmother was brought up on a farm across the road from Louth Hall in Tallanstown. She was Kathleen McMahon one of 8 children of William and Briget McMahon. I would love to share any information about that time
My grandmother was from tallenstown annie Campbell came up north for work and met my grandfather, she was born 1897 ish would love if any families around there knew her parents etc?
my grandparents worked their around the 1850/ 1900 ish, if anyone has any documents or photos of them i would love to see them, they were henry and ellen loughran, thank you
Must have been a very grandiose place to work!
Beautiful photographs. Thank you for sharing! I’m currently researching the phased construction of Louth Hall. I wonder does anyone know of any photographs of the site before its abandonment?
Thanks again and all the best
Hmm have you checked with the National library?
I have been lucky enough to find one or two shots of the exterior in the National Library and the Architectural Archive but sadly nothing at all of the intact interior nor any photographic record relating to the (by all accounts) beautiful demesne features – seems astoundingly little for such a historically important site. I’m sure that someone somewhere must remember this stunning house in its heyday and I’d love to hear from anyone with even the smallest bit of info.
So delighted to come across your fantastic blog. Thanks so much again 😊
Thank you for such kind words, btw perhaps you could contact the Irish Georgian Society, one of the heads of the organisation does a blog I follow called The Irish Aesthete, quite the expert on the Big Houses, here is the website address: https://theirishaesthete.com/
Hi there
My husband is Oliver Plunkett and his grandfather was Lord Louth – he passed away a few years ago. Ollie proposed to me at Louth Hall on a visit to Dublin in 2000..very interesting to read all of the above!
What a beautiful backdrop to a proposal 🙂 The Plunketts are certainly an unique family, but I’m sure I probably don’t need to tell you that!
Hi Kate,
What a wonderful story. I wonder does your family recollect the hall prior to its abandonment? I am trying to recover this lovely demesne for the history books and am searching for photographs or descriptions of the hall and its surroundings in their heyday. Would you or your husband be aware of any? (You can see the project here on Twitter: @louth_hall and can get in touch at louthhalldemesne@gmail.com
Many thanks
Hi Kate,
What a wonderful story! I wonder are you or your husband aware of any photographs of the hall prior to its abandonment? I am attempting to piece together the lost demesne and am searching for images or descriptive material relating to Louth Hall to this end. If you and your husband would be willing to assist I can be reached at louthhalldemesne@gmail.com. You can see more about the project on Twitter @louth_hall.
Many thanks indeed
Thank you for all the wonderful photographs of Louth Hall. I have recently confirmed that this line of Plunketts included 14 generations of my great grandparents. It is astonishing to see even the remains of where they lived for generations. What a treasure!
Thank you for your kind words Lael, your ancestors are certainly one interesting family!
They sure seem to have been!
I am a visiting Plunkett from Queensland Australia and have come to Ireland with my husband to visit our heritage (his surname is O’Sullivan from the southern part of Ireland). My ancestry dates back to 1866 when Thomas Plunkett arrived on the “Fiery Star” to make a new life in Australia. I am 4th generation and am presently renovating the house that my ancestors built and lived in when they arrived in Australia (Tamborine, Queensland). My website is still under construction (plunkettvillatamborine.com.au) but http://webeehost.com/neis1 (my test website) will give an idea of their surroundings from 150 years ago. We intend to visit Dunsany Castle, Louth Hall, & Plunkett House in County Meath. I am looking forward to taking back lots of photos, stories & history to share with Plunkett descendants in Australia since Thomas Plunkett left Ireland in the 1800’s.
When I was at School in Dundalk during the sixties I remember reading in the Irish Independent about a court case concerning Lord Louth and the Land Commission about the demesne which was being forcible bought because it was not being used for farming, he lost that case. I remember it was occupied by someone around that time and later was used to store grain, it’s sad to see it in this condition. But like all these houses once the land is gone it’s generally just a matter of time until the house follows. I don’t think they were very rich and when the Wyndham land reforms came in they grabbed the money and went.
Thanks Michael. It is sad sight that such a magnificent house gets absolutely no upkeep. I revisit so many places doing this website and I’m actually shocked at the disintegration of structures I’ve visited many times over these past 7 or so years.
Hi Folks, I live directly adjacent to Louth Hall and we walk there regularly, I have to ask has anyone wrote to Louth Counth Council about having the property added to the protected structures register?
Hey guys.. we live in dundalk.. we were just wondering if louth hall is on private land? We would love to walk up to it but are unsure if we will be intruding on private property. Thanks
To be honest its so long ago I can’t actually recall, I am erring on the side of thinking its most certainly private land.
My daughter and I have been trying to find more information about what materials were used to build Louth Hall for a project she is doing and it is so difficult to find any information on the architect and building materials used. If anyone has any information it will be greatly appreciated. We actually tried to visit it, and no way to enter as it seems to be on private property….. Real pity – would have been great to see it.
My grandfather worked for Lord Louth, caretaker and lived in the Castle yard. Lord and Lady Louth only stayed there during summer months and my dad told me she would but him boots and fancy clothes which he couldnt wear to school as he would stand out too much. He would wear them walking past the castle and then in the wooded area he would change into his own clothes and do the same on his way home. He did not have to do this all winter as they were not there during winter months.
Marian that’s a lovely story, thank you very much for sharing.