Labour of love reaps the rewards at period mansion

Peeling away layers of history, a renowned conservation engineer has restored an old world gem to its original splendour, reports Laurie O’Flynn

YOU have the comfort of Georgian living but with the medieval option of pouring hot oil on unwanted visitors at Marybrook House on 13 acres just outside Kanturk, Co Cork, where its history dates back almost 500 years.

The original building of 1550 was a fortified tower on a manor farm believed to serve the Knights Templar.