Terry Prone: Restoring our heritage doesn't have to be in poor taste

It could be time to revive old skills and allow ruins to be filled with working, breathing, laughing humans as was once the intent

Trim Castle, Co Meath: One of Ireland's finest landmarks. Restoring ruins might revivify them. 

If you visit my home one of these weekends, you’ll get a fascinating tour of a Martello Tower and sample a spectacular view from the windy roof.

Many heritage homes are open again — in our case on Saturday and Sunday morning. And while we’d prefer if you wore a mask, we’re not insistent about it, knowing that climbing long narrow spiral staircases can make the climber breathless even if their mouth and nose aren’t covered with a complicating lump of cloth slung between their ears.