The Redmonds established themselves at Hook, with the first recorded death of Sir Robert Redmond of the Hook in 1320, followed by his son Walter in 1350. By 1591, the family seat was known simply as “the Hall”, where Alexander Redmond held lands including Hook and Churchtown from the manor of Kilcloggan. The original structure was likely a fortified house rather than a traditional castle, similar to the one at Slade.

The Hall witnessed one of its most dramatic episodes during the Confederate Wars when, on 20 July 1642, a raiding party of 100 men sailed from the besieged Duncannon Fort to attack the stronghold. Alexander Redmond, his sons Robert and Michael, and their retainers mounted a fierce defence, aided fortuitously by a storm. The attack failed spectacularly; Thomas Aston was killed along with many others, whilst John Esmonde, who happened to be the nephew of defender Robert Redmond’s wife Eleanor, was captured and later executed at Ballyhack. Despite the turbulent times, the Civil Survey of 1654-6 shows Robert Redmond still held the old castle with 180 acres of demesne, plus additional lands in Slade and Churchtown.

The property’s transformation began after the Commonwealth period when Sir Nicholas Loftus acquired 1800 acres in Shelburne barony. His son Henry inherited multiple castles including Kilcloggan, Fethard, and Dungulph, but chose to settle at Redmond Hall around 1680, renaming it Loftus Hall. According to Robert Leigh’s 1684 account, Henry restored the old hall, added new buildings, and was constructing an enclosed garden; remnants of this walled garden can still be seen northeast of the present hall. Around 1700, either Henry or his son Nicholas built a new house, a grand nine-bay, two-storey structure with Palladian influences that stood until the current Loftus Hall was built in 1870. Whilst nothing remains of either the original Redmond hall or the first Loftus Hall, the site continues to captivate visitors with its layers of history and the infamous ghost stories that have accumulated over the centuries.