ONE of the striking things from Building Ireland, a six-part TV series that examines Ireland’s building and engineering heritage, is to realise how prominent the country was on the world stage in the 18th and 19th centuries.

An extensive network of walking trails has been developed through a town to showcase its rich military heritage.

Back in the mid-2000s, a site for an hotel was put to market in Cork’s Ballincollig, with €7m sought for a 100-bed hotel (never built) on 5.5 acres.