One of the most shameful and hellish murders ever perpetrated in this country took place at Wild goose Lodge five miles north west of Aclint Bridge.

In the 1800's there was in Ireland a secret society known as the Ribbonmen. Ribbonism was a rural protest movement and there was a branch in the Reaghstown area about sis miles North West of Ardee.

In this area, there was hunting lodge known as The Wild Goose Lodge. On the 10th April 1816 a number of Ribbonmen broke into The Wild goose Lodge and demanded arms, determined to pick up whatever arms were in the house.

Three of the intruders were later identified and sentenced to death. The evidence which led to their convictions was given by the owner of the Wild goose Lodgeand his son-in-law who also lived there. A meeting of the Ribbonmen was called in Stonetown Chapel and the burning of Wild goose Lodge was plotted. The fore would be a revenge killing by the Ribbonmen for the prosecution of their members.

Between 1am and 2am on the 30th October 1816 the house was surrounded and set ablaze. The family including a baby, two servant girls and a servant boy perished in the flames- eight people in all.

Twenty six men were apprehended for the burning of the Wild goose Lodge and four of these were indicted the 10th April attack. They were hanged and gibbeted in various parts of County Louth.