
History & Folklore
Captain Redman & The Redman’s Cave
Visitors to The Smugglers Rest will instantly notice of how the interior décor is to resemble that of an era gone by. Celebrating Clogherhead’s rich nautical past, we at The Smugglers Rest wanted to celebrate this incredible history and create awareness of the fascinating folklore centred around the village. In every room there is memorabilia on show capturing Clogherhead’s maritime past.
Most notably the wall mural in our Main Bar Area depicts a walking map of the headland and Clogherhead Village with historical points of interest marked with an X. Some of these include Glaspistol Castle, The WW2 Look Out Post, The Coastguard Watch Tower, and The Redman’s Cave. Also, part of the Mural is a portrait of Captain Redman of which it is said The Redman’s Caves name originated.
The Hounds
During Oliver Cromwell’s siege of Drogheda in 1649, British soldiers were said to have put to death several Catholic priests hiding in a cave on the coast at Clogherhead. The priests were seeking sanctuary inside the headland cave from Cromwell’s Round Head Soldiers. Story goes, the priests were walking their dogs along the head when they spotted the soldiers in the distance. They made their way down the steep passage to the cave mouth and waited until the soldiers passed. As the dogs heard the soldiers on patrol above the cave they begun barking uncontrollably. This led the soldiers straight into the cave to the priests in hiding. When the soldiers discovered the priests, they killed them and the dogs one by one. The walls of the cave were stained in blood of the slain and this is where the name, The Redman’s Cave originated. Until very recent times the inside of the cave was painted red by locals to commemorate this event. It is said that on cold and stormy Autumn nights, dog barks can be heard coming from the cave. The barks get louder and louder and louder and then come to a sudden end.
The Captain
Local folklore has it that Captain Redman sailed a small ship to Ireland from Spain. The journey was long and plagued with bad luck.
Which one do you think was the source of the cave’s name?
In honour of The Captain, The Smugglers Rest hosts an annual Halloween theatrical dinner with a crew of dead sailors and the ghost of Captain Redman himself. This is an event not to be missed.
The Saloon Doors
The Saloon Doors that many people pass through on the way to the beer garden or restrooms have a fascinating origin. The doors themselves are carved and made from Irish Walnut by local craftsman Padraig Dunne of Riocht Design. The tree in which the wood was carved was felled at Old Bridge Estate which is the site of the famous Battle of the Boyne in 1690. It is estimated that this tree was planted in the early 17th century and would have been mature around the time of the battle. If these doors could talk, they could tell us exactly what happened on the day from their focal point. How do we know this? This tree was carbon dated as the current President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins and current President of the U.S.A. Joe Biden where both separately gifted pieces carved from this same tree. We wonder how many people that push these doors know of them through history?
The Smuggler's Rest
Harbour Road,
Clogherhead,
Co. Louth.
Ireland.
A92 XH2D
041 988 9302
Opening Hours
Monday - Wednesday
Available for private party bookings
Thursday - Sunday
Bar available until late
See Our Party Menus
