Open day to raise funds for suicide charity

A landowner will throw open the gates of his private country estate to the public this weekend to raise funds for people bereaved by suicide.

Millionaire banker David Davies’ renowned Abbeyleix Estate in Co Laois contains an award-winning garden with rare trees and shrubs from around the world.

One of the key attractions is The King’s Garden, named after the last High King of Laois, Malachi O’More.

The estate also boasts the largest lowland oak forest in the country which is currently part of a national conservation programme.

It will be opened for one day on Sunday and admission prices will raise funds for Console, the national charity supporting those bereaved by suicide.

Davies, who is chairman of the Irish Heritage Trust, said: “Console was chosen as the charity as a huge number of people in this country have been touched by the devastating effects of suicide.

“That includes some of our staff members.”

Davies bought the property in 1995 from the DeVesci family who had owned the estate since 1710.

The gardens are curated by UK expert John Anderson who also works with the Rothschild Gardens in England.

Davies has advised the Government on the preservation of historic country houses and helped set up the Irish Heritage Trust.