Home & Away with Robert Walshe
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Weekend Hotspot – Ballyvolane House County Cork
Built in Georgian style in 1728 for a retired lord chief justice of Ireland, Ballyvolane House was modified over 100 years later with an Italianate design. In 1730, the elderly tenants, Andrew St Leger and his wife, were murdered by their butler and maid for their valuables, which were supposedly buried in the shrubbery somewhere on the property as the story goes. So all in all this stately pile exudes history & style. There have been three owners and currently four generations
n Ballyvolane House.
of the Green family living here. Justin took over the running of Ballyvolane with wife Jenny from his father in 2004 after extensive hospitality experience in Britain and Asia where they both met. The house is shabby chic with six rooms that all have high ceilings and overlook the gardens or the park land. They all have their own bathrooms, many with antique cast iron baths. One of the baths with a rich wood finish is supposedly the biggest in the country! There are antique radios in all bedrooms, which suit the house style, but also TVs & Wi-Fi mindful of more mod-
ern times. In the bedrooms there are little touches like homemade biscuits and cordials to give it a more homely touch. Ballyvolane the quintessential Irish country retreat has the grounds to go with it. Walking through the formal, walled and woodland gardens and lingering beneath ancient beech and oak trees is a magical experience even in the rain! Guests can also enjoy delicious home-cooking in the formal dining room or afternoon tea by the open turf fires. All ingredients are grown in Ballyvolane’s own walled garden, reared on the farm or sourced from local producers. There’s an excellent wine list and breakfast is served until midday which is ideal for lazy risers! The nearby Blackwater Valley is worth exploring as are Fermoy, Youghal & my favourite heritage town of Lismore. They have a heritage centre there and some beautiful walks, as well as a castle with
(074) 9131018 public gardens which are stunning. Fota House and Blarney Castle are nearby while Kinsale and Cork City are also within easy reach. If you’re staying over the weekend visit the nearby farmers market & the Jameson Heritage Centre in Midleton. On the coast there is sea fishing, beaches and wonderful coastal walks and elsewhere there is horse racing at Maln Dining at Ballyvo low and numerous lane House. golf courses within an hour’s drive. A Hidden Ireland Christmas is the easiest and most en- all kinds including exclusive joyable way to capture some hire for families. The Green “Downton Abbey” style big family at Ballyvolane will house magic this festive sea- also consider requests for son. The collective offer an private weddings where you eclectic mix of 35 handsome are guaranteed a fairytale homes where a Christmas setting in the heart of East and New Year celebration is Cork. They recently built a a continuation of a distinctive vintage marquee which is atand luxurious Irish history. tached to an old stone barn Most Hidden Ireland houses in the farmyard overlooking were built for entertaining the gardens. They cleverly on a grand scale, something knocked two doorways into that shows them at their very the barn which is where best, making them perfect for the bar is keeping all the New Year house parties and old walls exposed and then Christmas celebrations of
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there’s another room for dancing. Rates at Ballyvolane House are available from: €95 for deluxe or €105 pps for superior. A single supplement of €125 applies and dinner is €55 pp on request. www. hiddenireland.com/ballyvolanehouse-cork Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio Network and Travel Editor for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. www.robertwalshe.com