Selection of shrubs for side of house?

Is this for along your boundary or actually against the side of your house? What is or will be on the other side of the wire fence? Roughly what size of shrubs are you talking about? Which part of the country are you in and is it coastal or inland? These kinds of things will all make a difference.

Philadelphus are lovely and smell amazing. They're one of my favourites and really putting on a show at the moment. They're surprisingly tough in the wind.

I also love spiraea. They flower early on when many other things haven't started. They can really take a lot of wind and give some shelter even in the winter because their branches are so dense.

A few evergreens would also be good in the mix to give some shelter in your exposed site. Eleagnus are great. They have a tiny flower so aren't showy in that way and would definitely look like a plain hedge on their own but they have a lovely foliage and would work well in a mix with other things. They will grow tall if you let them but they are very easy to keep to whatever size you like.

Hebe is another lovely one. There's a good variety of them to choose from. Some of them can potentially be tender in a very bad year but I think you'd be ok in Cork.

Aronia is a nice shrub and has edible berries. It's deciduous and the leaves turn amazing vibrant colours in the autumn.

Berberis is another favourite of mine. They come in all sorts of striking colours and the berries are also edible, but not very sweet.

And another edible one, and I know you didn't ask for edibles but these are very hardy and attractive and they have beautiful flowers, chaenemoles (Japanese flowering quince).

Of course roses are always lovely and easy to get addicted to!

I would definitely try to get some natives in the mix for the wildlife. Spindle can be kept to the size you want and guelder rose, as mentioned above. Even something like elder can be kept surprisingly small and will give you and the wildlife wonderful flowers and fruit.

Those are some of my favourites that I think would suit but there would be a huge amount of other plants that would also work in that situation. If you can, you could try and visit some open gardens and get some ideas. I'm always excited by something more varied than a plain hedge. I think you'll be able to do a lovely mix!