23 July 2022
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
County Cork in Ireland is no stranger to celebrities. Many stars have chosen Ireland’s largest County as the location for their summer home, to get away from the hectic schedules of the TV or Film industry.
Entertainment: Jessica Fletcher brought us hours of enjoyment. We applaud Dame Angela for making this character so beloved, but did you know the actress behind the role has a Cork connection?
Dame (knighted in April 2014) Angela Lansbury is now aged 96 and is famous for her portrayal of Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote (1984-1996). Where does Angela Lansbury live? She used to have a House, and seperate guest bungalow, in Conna in North Cork, but in more recent years she has had a getaway in East Cork.
Below is a series of archive clips where Angela Lansbury spoke about her time in Ireland, in chronological order
Ballycotton, East County Cork
Where: Corymore House, Ballywilliam, Cloyne, Co Cork, P25 HW74
Designed by her friend the famous pottery maker Stephen Pearce; Lansbury has a U-shaped clifftop house on 9.2 (22.8 acres) hectares at Ballinwilliam, Ballycotton, Co Cork. It’s south of the village of Churchtown South. Lansbury first moved in with her husband in late 1992. The U shape is designed to create a sheltered courtyard, which neutralises the strong sea breezes. Architectural Digest visited the property in 2007. Lansbury spent summers and Christmas’ at the house, and it appears to still be in her ownership.
When Lansbury spoke at nearby Grainstore Entertainment Venue by Ballymaloe House, East Cork on 3 August 2014 she was in fine form:
Privacy
Remember, a person’s home is their Castle (for Jeremy Irons quite literally!), so unless a star’s house happens to contain a public garden (such as Lord David Puttnam‘s) or has an open day then it’s best to stay away. The internet allows a glimpse into celebrity life, but everyone is entitled to go about their business in peace.