The name McArdle is an anglicised rendering of the Gaelic surname "Mac Ardghail" an ancient personal name derived from the Gaelic word "Ardghal", literally meaning "High Valour". This family was held to be a branch of the McMahons of Orial (comprising mostly of counties Monaghan,Louth and Armagh) and were originally known as "Sliocht Ardghail Mhoir Mhic Mathuna" or stock of "Ardghal Mhoir Mac Mahon" who was chief of the McMahons between 1402-1416.

Their original homeland was the barony of Monaghan. A branch of the McArdles later married into and became sub-chiefs to the O'Neills, the most powerful clan in Ulster.

In 1591 the McMahon lands in Co. Monaghan were seized by the crown. This lead to the so-called nine year war in which the Ulster chieftains under Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone defeated the might of Queen Elizabeth I several times before being completely routed at Kinsale, Co. Cork, in 1601.

The battle of Kinsale (and surrender of Hugh O'Neill at Mellifont abbey two years later) marked the end of the old Gaelic way of life and resulted in the plantation of Ulster. This branch of the McArdle family are believed to have migrated to the Lordship area of North Louth around this time and it was just over a century later that their ancestral home to be, Rampark Farmhouse, was built with the first resident being Philip McArdle (1693-1784).

Rampark Farmhouse - late 1800s

Peter McArdle

Peter McArdle, great grandson of Philip, played an active role in the Parnell inspired land war of the 1880s that resulted in the tenant farmers securing the right to buy their holdings.

Philip McArdle and his wife Mary-Anne

Peter McArdle's son, Philip, was active during the Irish War of Independence and the Civil War that followed in the early 1920s. His house and farm were used as a safe haven for rebel forces during this period. After the Civil War Philip McArdle switched his allegiance to the newly formed Fianna Fail Party and won a counsellor seat in local elections some years later.

McArdle children 1920

The last member of the family to reside permanently at Rampark Farmhouse was Philip's son Seamus who died in 2002. With the exception of Seamus, who is buried locally in Lordship cemetery, all previous owners of the house are buried in the family plaot at nearby Newtown cemetery - first opened in 1770.

TD Dermot Ahern with members of the McArdle family

Amid much local media and public interest, Mr Dermot Ahern TD, then Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, presided over the official opening of Rampark Farmhouse (www.atramparkfarmhouse.com) and the launch of Irish Celtic Tours (www.irishceltictours.com) in September 2005.

The new generation of McArdles at Rampark Farmhouse