House of the Week

ALL the drama at Ballea Cotage takes place quietly, off-stage, in the gardens — the spot loved by its late owners, Harold Johnson, a former chairman of Cork Opera House, and his wife Chloe.

The couple, who rowed to the rescue of theatre in Cork in the 1950s after the old Opera House burned down in 1955, were instrumental in fundraising and keeping energies going for a new, 1965 replacement.

An accountant by training and profession, Mr Johnson remained on the board, and served as Opera House chairman, into the 1990s, as well as being actively involved in the Cheshire Home and RNLI. He was awarded an honorary MA from UCC in 2000 for his work for Cork Opera House.