Click through the photo gallery above to see the results of Franek's episode. You can watch the results back on RTÉ Player.
Presented by Baz Ashmawy, DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland is a heart-warming show that delivers real-life results. Over the course of just nine days, through the power of goodwill, hard work, and community spirit, a significant home renovation will take place for a family in need.
Each of the families featured on the show were facing difficult personal circumstances and needed help to improve their quality of life.
The battalions of high-vis vests and hard hats are corralled and cajoled by Baz, who, as always, keeps spirits high and tensions low as teams work into the night to realise these impressive constructions and overhauls.
To celebrate all the hard work from this year's series, we're looking back at the four families' stories and the many suppliers who helped their new homes happen.
Watch DIY SOS back on RTÉ Player now.
Franek's story
13-year-old Franek has cerebral palsy, severe scoliosis, is visually impaired and unable to walk, which means that he relies entirely on his family for his care.
Franek lives with his Mum and Dad, Tanya and Val, his twin brother Antoni, and his older brother, Tom.
He requires assistance for all transfers and ideally would have had a hoist, but the house was not equipped. Before DIY SOS, Val carried his son upstairs to access his bedroom and the only bathroom. As Franek grew older, though, this was becoming increasingly difficult.
To make matters more stressful, Tanya had surgery last year to remove a brain tumour, which left her unable to assist with lifting Franek due to her own health.
Franek shared his small bedroom with his twin brother, Antoni. However, when Franek is unwell, he wakes a lot at night, which means that Antoni has to sleep on the couch downstairs.
At the time of filming, Franek was awaiting urgent spinal surgery for his scoliosis, but his surgery was delayed because he would need to be hoisted after the procedure, and the home was not adapted for this.
The family desperately needed a downstairs bedroom and an accessible bathroom for Franek’s life post-surgery. As Franek’s scoliosis worsened, his need for an adapted home became ever more urgent.
This is when DIY SOS stepped in.
Suppliers
Build Team – Custy Construction
DERMOT CUSTY
JOHN MEADE
DAVE CHAMBERS
Construction Consultant to Indiepics
BRANDON DUARTE
Health & Safety Advisor – Cooga Safety
HELENA RYAN
Interior Designer
KERRY HIDDLESTON - Hiddleston Interiors
Design Assistants
BIANCA CIRDEI
NATALIA KRY
Garden Designer - Elm Landscaping
MICHAEL EUSTACE
Lead Electrician – Kirby Group
STEPHEN BRENNAN
Lead Plumber – Feakle Gas & Plumbing
PAURIC GALLAGHER
Building Designer – Building Surveyor Ltd
IAN SHEEHY
Series Suppliers:
- ACTAVO
- ALUCAST
- BALLYGOWAN
- BARRY'S TEA
- COCA COLA HBC IRELAND
- COFFEE LABORATORY
- CHADWICKS
- CUSHY WALL
- CYGNUM
- DID ELECTRICAL
- DOWN2EARTH MATERIALS
- DETERTECH
- DUNNES STORES
- DRY MY HOME
- EZ LIVING INTERIORS
- FLEETWOOD PAINTS
- HARRIS GROUP/MAXUS
- HILTI IRELAND
- HSS HIRE IRELAND
- KIRBY GROUP
- LINDAB IRELAND LTD
- MOBILE RADIO LINKS
- OMC TECHNOLOGIES
- PANDA
- PIPELIFE
- ROADSTONE
- SCATTERBOX
- SIGN ON TIME
- SNICKERS WORKWEAR
- TAYTO SNACKS
- TITAN CONTAINERS
Clarecastle Suppliers:
- ARJO
- BANNER MARQUEES
- BRIAN GREENE FITTED FURNITURE
- CANTEC GROUP
- CARRYGERRY HOUSE
- CATERHIRE, LIMERICK
- CELLNET
- CELUPLAST
- CES ENVIRONMENTAL
- CHRIS & DAVE HANRAHAN
- CLARECASTLE DAY CARE CENTRE
- CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL
- CLARE STORAGE
- COLLERAN CARPENTRY
- COLLINS PLASTICS
- COOGA SAFETY
- CSGL ELECTRICAL
- CUSHY WALL
- CUSTY CONSTRUCTION
- DAVE O'HANLON BESPOKE HANDCRAFTED FURNITURE
- DELCAN CUSTY
- DELTA PAINTING
- DIGITAL SCREEN DISPLAYS
- DUNWOOD
- EAST JOINERY
- ELEPHANT LIVING
- ELM LANDSCAPING
- ENNIS BLINDS
- ENNIS CARPETS
- ENNIS PET CENTRE
- FEAKLE GAS & PLUMBING
- FITZGERALD SKIPS LTD LIMERICK
- GALWAY STONE
- HACKETTS PRINTING SERVICES
- HERMEQ
- HOME TRENDS FURNITURE
- HOUSENUMBERS.IE
- HSE WEST CLARE CHILDREN'S DISABILITY NETWORK TEAM
- HURST BOTANICALS
- IAN SHEEHY BUILDING SURVEYOR
- IAN TUBRIDY CLEANING
- IDEAL ENERGY
- JILLY & JOE'S (BUNRATTY)
- KANE'S CENTRA, CLARECASTLE
- KELLIHERS ELECTRICAL
- KELLY'S NURSERY
- KEYPOINT
- KIRBY GROUP ENGINEERING
- KNOX'S PUB & STOREHOUSE RESTAURANT
- KONTOUR
- LAURAJEANDESIGNS
- LA VITA ICECREAM
- LIDL
- LITTLE SPOON COFFEE
- LOUGHNANES JOINERY
- MASTER RECRUITMENT
- MAURICE DOODY SALES
- MAXOL, CLARECASTLE
- McGILLS GARDEN AND PATIO CENTRE
- MCMAHON GLASS
- MCNALLY JOINERY
- MEADOWS & BYRNE
- MULQUEENS FLORISTS
- MURPHY GEOSPATIAL
- N.A.A
- NOEL & DEIRDRE MCCARTHY
- O'CONNORS BAKERY
- OHK ENERGY
- ÓISÍN KEANE
- OLD GROUND HOTEL
- PHILIP COLLERAN TV SERVICES
- PLANTUP
- PRECIOUS PETS
- QBM
- RENT AN IRISH COTTAGE
- RUGS.IE
- RYANS WINDOWS, LIMERICK
- SHANNONSIDE GALVANISING
- SHANNONSIDE HARDWARE
- SHANNON SPRINGS HOTEL
- SUPERMACS, ENNIS
- SUTTONS LIGHTING
- TEMPLE GATE HOTEL
- THE CASTLE COFFEE HOUSE
- THE CREAMERY PUB & FOOD BARN
- THE INN AT DROMOLAND
- THE MONKS PANTRY
- THE RECORD HUB
- TOOLMAN.IE
- TOTAL SENSORY SOLUTIONS
- TREACYS WEST COUNTY HOTEL
- TUBRIDY CLEANING
- USHER INSULATIONS LTD
- VODAFONE, ENNIS
- WALSH CRANE HIRE
- WILD CATERING
- WILLIAM COX
- WORLD OF TILES
- XL HOGANS SHOP + BAKERY
- YVONNE'S TAKEAWAY
Additional thanks to:
- ABBEY HALL. CLARECASTLE
- AILLWEE BURREN EXPERIENCE
- ANDREA BOCELLI
- CLARECASTLE BALLYEA PARISH
- CLARECASTLE GAA
- CLARECASTLE SCOUTS
- CLARE TOURISM WEST & NORTHWEST
- CLIFFS OF MOHER EXPERIENCE
- CREGGAUN NA HILLA RESIDENTS
- FÓRSA
- AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA (ENNIS)
- MENS SHED, CLARECASTLE
- FIONA CUDDIHY
- SIOBHAN RYAN
- DEIRDRE TALTY
- SGT DOMINIC REGAN
- TULLA CEILÍ BAND
