Castlelyons Santa Experience & Christmas Market 2026 at Ballyvolane House

Join us at Ballyvolane House on Thursday, 20th August 2026 for a special National Heritage Week afternoon exploring the built, natural and cultural heritage of this historic County Cork country house and estate.

In keeping with the 2026 theme, “Heritage at Risk”, this guided experience will look at the challenges involved in caring for a historic house and its surrounding landscape, and consider how buildings, trees, habitats and stories can be protected for future generations.

The tour will be led by Justin Green, owner and custodian of Ballyvolane House, who will share the history of the house, stories associated with the families who have cared for it, and the practical realities of preserving a historic property and estate.

Ballyvolane House is a member of the Historic Houses of Ireland.

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Justin was delighted to join Sinéad Ryan on Newstalk’s The Home Show as part of her series of interviews with historic house owners.

They spoke about the joys and challenges of running a historic house, the work of Historic Houses of Ireland, and the efforts being made by custodians to protect Ireland’s privately owned built heritage for future generations.

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Delighted to represent Historic Houses of Ireland at the European Historic Houses AGM in Brussels on 2nd and 3rd June.

A highlight was visiting the European Parliament and attending the opening of “Heritage at Heart: Historic Houses and Gardens as the Cultural Foundations of Europe”, hosted by MEP Carlo Ciccioli.

It was a pleasure to meet Irish MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and MEP Carlo Ciccioli, and to discuss the vital role historic houses play in rural Europe — supporting tourism, local employment, traditional skills, community life and sustainable rural regeneration.

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