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Salmon fishing has been part of life at Ballyvolane House for generations. Growing up here, the arrival of the salmon fishing season was always something to look forward to. The Munster Blackwater was once regarded as one of Ireland’s finest salmon rivers, attracting anglers from all over the world.

My late mother, Merrie Green, was a passionate salmon angler. Fishing was an important part of her life, and through her enthusiasm it became an integral part of our family history.

When my parents began welcoming paying guests to Ballyvolane House, salmon fishing was one of our main attractions. We operated several beats on the Blackwater, employed local ghillies and welcomed visiting anglers, many of whom returned year after year.

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We are delighted to share details of the Historic Houses of Ireland (HHI) Autumn School, taking place at beautiful Durhamstown Castle in Co. Meath on Wednesday, 21st October.

The event brings together owners and custodians of historic properties, heritage professionals, tourism leaders and conservation experts for a day of lively discussion, shared experiences and networking.

This year’s programme features an impressive line-up of speakers, including Alice Mansergh of Tourism Ireland, renowned chef and restaurateur Richard Corrigan, food writer Georgina Campbell, author and conservationist Eoghan Daltun, and Eoghan O’Mara Walsh of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, among others.

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We are delighted to be welcoming the Castlelyons Santa Experience & Christmas Market 2026 to Ballyvolane House on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November. Organised by Castlelyons Community Council, the event promises to be a wonderfully festive weekend for families, with Ballyvolane transformed into a Christmas winter wonderland for the occasion. Visitors can look forward to a magical Santa Experience, along with a Christmas Market featuring festive stalls, seasonal treats and plenty of Christmas atmosphere throughout the grounds. The event is being organised by Castlelyons Community Council, with the support of local volunteers and businesses, and we’re delighted to be hosting it here at Ballyvolane House.

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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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On Wild Salmon Day, we are raising the flag for a species that once shaped life and livelihoods along the River Blackwater.

In the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, spring, summer and autumn at Ballyvolane were defined by salmon anglers travelling here to fish the Blackwater. It was a vibrant part of rural tourism, supporting accommodation providers, ghillies, pubs, restaurants and local communities.

Today, that angling tourism has all but disappeared. Wild Atlantic salmon, once so abundant and so deeply woven into Irish folklore that it appeared on the old 10p coin, are now in crisis.

There are many contributing factors: climate change, rising sea temperatures, reduced zooplankton energy, overfishing, predation, poor river management, and the impact of fish farming — from sea lice to escaped farmed salmon weakening wild genetics.

But what is most difficult to accept is the lack of urgency in protecting one of Ireland’s most iconic species.

The collapse of wild salmon is not only an environmental tragedy. It is a cultural, economic and rural tragedy too.

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LOVE IS A STRANGER

JULY 17th – 19th 2026

LOVE IS A STRANGE returns to Ballyvolane House this summer. Full info coming soon…

Loyalty tickets - sold out Tickets on general release - June 4th

For up to date info, sign up to ALS mailing list on WWW.ANOTHERLOVESTORY.IE

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