Lovers of Loftus Hall

Some women say all men who are lovers are devils, and that may be true, this is a story of the girl who loved the devil himself...

View from Hook Head �" Detail of painting by Julian Lovegrove

She was a fine maiden of thirty years
At the table playing cards
He, the dark stranger who had come
A gentleman of kind regards.

He had lost his way in the Hook Head fog
As did many a traveller before
Some say on horseback, more by sea
The truth in the fog of time is known no more.

Laws of Whist �" the devil often features in tales of this game being played

As the time wore on her heart was lost
It is said, as the whist games were won,
A card dropped by her showed his cloven feet:
He was no mortals son!

A scream she let, in a puff of smoke he went
It was the devil himself who stole
The heart of Amy Loftus
As he played for her very soul!

She lost her mind, poor Amy
To the Tapestry Room was confined
Until she died she madly cried
In language broad and unrefined.

By some its said she can be seen
In a stiff dress to a closet in the corner to walk
More say the devil comes to attack those in the bed
Such is the local tales and talk.

More say a skeleton once upon a time
Behind the closet it was found
Was it her �" or was it him
That was not buried in sacred ground?

She loved well, as well did he,
Her family disapproved
Was he murdered and hidden in the Tapestry room?
The truth will never be known or proved…

We know poor Amy lost her mind
Broken hearted, maybe with fear
His ghost malevolent, her’s is not
Should either of them appear.

Some slept while the room had a bed
Tales of each apparition was seen
Fr Thomas Broaders exorcised the house
Bar to the Tapestry Room where she confined had been.

It had been changed to a billiard room
How had her spirit taken it, it was inquired
She made an awful racket with the billiard balls
The changes her rage had fired!

Today, Loftus Hall is torn down
Another house stands in its stead
The locals tell tales to strangers now
Of the lovers, the devil and the dead!

Loftus Hall under seige in Cromwellian Times while home to the Redmond Family

Sources

* The story of Amy Tottenham from the Tottenham family themselves

Some More Poems:

May the Lord In His Mercy Save Us From the Worst of Mac Leod13th February 2017In "2016 American Presidential Election"

No Horse Sense in Galway17th January 2017In "Current Affairs in Ireland"

Nineteen Thirty Nine1st July 2016In "2016 American Presidential Election"

The Bright Star of Ireland - The Jealous Queen19th June 2016In "Irish Legend"

The Banshee25th October 2012In "Irish Legend"

King Congal’s Grief11th January 2013In "Celts and Celtic Heritage"

Reviews

[Great Aunt Astri]

Stories that have travelled down the years are often the best.
You have done a good job on this tale.
It reads well but I found, in some of the longer lines, the metre was a bit off-beat. Clever rhymes and you give tension in the poem which is reflected in the last two lines. Nicely done.

[Sami Khalil]

You bring history alive and with passion you enlarge the theme. Thank you for sharing...:)...........

[Coyote Poetry]

Amazing story written my friend. I liked the old places and the old stories told by the local people. I enjoyed the complete tale and thank you for reading and the comment.
Coyote

[jacob erin-cilberto]

oh my...reminds me of those monsters hiding under the bed or in the closet...
and how we can barter or make friends with the devil in order to satisfy our appetite for immediate gratification.

nicely done...great meter.

[Tomás Ó Cárthaigh]

I'm not the best at metre but this one came together fairly well! Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!