Years of planting give Ballinlough house total privacy

WE are a nation of knockers, but we have now moved from mean begrudgery to wanton house demolition. But, hopefully, that won’t be the fate of Somerton House in Cork.

The country is full of those who’d rather knock and rebuild than take time and effort to save the buildings which should be kept, but this hidden house should be saved.

Its gloriously jungle-like gardens containing golden Irish yew, alders, acacia, eucalyptus, monterey and Scots pines, tea tree and wildlife-friendly planting deserve a more sympathetic treatment.