Killyon Manor awarded for their focus on biodiversity

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Killyon Manor, Hill of Down.

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Photographed at the Heritage Prize presentation (left to right): Zoe Purcell, Roland Purcell, Shane O’Flynn of the O’Flynn Group, and Minister for State Pippa Hackett.

Published: Fri 8 Mar 2024, 9:52 AM

Last updated: Fri 8 Mar 2024, 3:23 PM

Hannah McNamara

Killyon Manor was given a special mention at a Historic Houses of Ireland award ceremony.

The fourth HHI-O'Flynn Heritage Prize presentation took place last month in the Merrion Hotel, Dublin with the Killyon Manor on the Hill of Down being given special recognition for their outstanding commitment to restoring the building and their focus on biodiversity.

Thomas Emmet, Next Gen Coordinator for HHI, and one of the judges of this competition said: "I've always been impressed by what Killyon Manor have managed to do throughout the years. They are innovative and committed. Each year they hold the festival 'Another Love Story' on their site and all the money they make from that goes into wildlife conservation."

He added: "It's great that historic estates are working towards re-wilding and restoring nature and personally this is always a criteria I look at."

Killyon Manor was built by Loftus the Magnificent in the mid-18th century. Today it is the home of Roland and Zoe Purcell, who have been gradually rewilding the estate's remaining 60 acres over the last decade with the help of the National Parks of Ireland.

The Purcells have taken all livestock off the land, resulting in wild plants and animal life prospering in the area.

The acknowledgment they received for their years of hard work was "heart-warming news," said Zoe Purcell.

The presentation was attended by the Minister for State Pippa Hackett, Head of National Monuments (OPW) Mary Heffernan and Shane Flynn of the O’Flynn Group, sponsors of the event.