Last year, Hugh Wallace embarked on a journey to chart eight more restorations across Ireland. His excitement and enthusiasm about observing buildings being brought back to life was unmatched.
Six of those homes are now complete and ready to inspire the audience. By way of tribute to Hugh and with the help of his friend Brendan Courtney, this series will chart the homeowners' journeys to transform six distinct, old buildings that had been left to rack and ruin, as they take on the behemoth task of reviving these buildings. From an old Schoolhouse in Westmeath to a derelict bank in Roscommon, the series tracks their progress as they transform these buildings into liveable homes.
Every aspect of the work is documented. From continuous delays to challenging budgets, from leaky buildings to battles fought – and challenges overcome. Every property is different and each brings with it its own unique set of problems for the brave homeowners, for whom every restoration is a labour of love.
Hugh passionately believed in saving our built heritage, not just to celebrate the crafts of the past, but to create homes fit for the future. In a time where so many struggle to find a place to call home, Hugh challenged us to see the potential in old walls, celebrated traditional methods and building techniques and pushed homeowners to be creative, the result being beautifully unique properties which will be cherished for decades to come.
This series celebrates Hugh’s lasting contribution to Irish architecture, how he helped people create homes, warmed hearts, and made countless people smile along the way.
Victorian Terraced House, Co Kilkenny
Proud Kilkenny man, Sean Hickey, has been working two jobs to save for his first home. Monday to Friday, he is a primary school teacher, and at weekends and school holidays, he works as a landscape gardener. After all his hard work, and diligent saving, he now has the keys to his home in his dream location of Kilkenny City. But his home is in far from turnkey condition.
History buff Sean does not like to throw anything out, and as a result his parents' garage has turned into a "salvage" yard full of items Sean has redeemed and saved from skips over the years. From a clock rescued from his old primary school to old reclaimed bricks, Sean is planning to utilise it all to save money on making his home a reality.
Relying on his close knit community and his strong work ethic, Sean is planning to faithfully restore and renovate his Victorian home on a budget of €100,000 – with half of that coming from grants. But with the chimney in need of repair and an old dilapidated extension which needs to be knocked and replaced, can Sean afford to do everything on his to-do-list for his renovation? Or will the compromises mean he will be living with his parents for some time?
The Old Bank, Elphin, Roscommon
Elphin native, Mary Morris grew up in a village that was book-ended by her mother, Mai's sweet shop on one end, and her father, Paddy’s butcher shop at the other. Years later she met the love of her life, Colm Dowd, in a bar in the heart of the Elphin Village.
When Mary and Colm first met and fell in love, they both owned their own homes. But now they want to create their first home together. And no better place than the old bank directly across the road from the pub where they first met. They have already successfully converted the old banking hall into Mary’s new shop premises, and are now turning their attention to the old bank residence that hasn’t been lived in for over thirty years. The residence is a neglected space that has allowed damp and mould to thrive. But Mary and Colm have a vision that lets them see past all the moisture, allowing them to turn this behemoth of a building into not only into their home, but also their sanctuary.
Though this big old building has no sway with romance, it keeps giving…endless leaks and patches of damp. Will this vast "ship" of a home ever dry out in time to make it habitable?
Arts & Crafts Style End of Terrace House, Talbots Inch Village, Co Kilkenny
Trish has a deep appreciation for history, in particular Kilkenny history and had always dreamed of living in the historically significant housing development, Talbots Inch Village. This dream was realised in March 2024, when she went sale agreed on a two-bedroom house there. But since then she has battled through various challenges; planning permission, adhering to a conservation order, the discovery of asbestos, and applying for multiple grants to make the restoration of her home possible.
But with work finally underway, the issues of this 100+ year old home are never ending, asbestos rears it ugly head again, and Trish discovers more unexpected costs. Turning her dream home renovation into a costly headache.
Coralstown, Co. Westmeath
Jill Leavy had been on the hunt for her first home in Dublin, with her parents in tow, for some time. Her parents were appalled by the huge demand and high asking prices for one-bedroom apartments in the capital, and encouraged Jill to look for better value closer to her family home in Westmeath.
And that's when her Dad, Vincent introduced her to his old primary school in Coralstown. Built in 1932, the old two-roomed school had been shut down to make way for a bigger and more modern primary school, better suited to serving the community. Since purchasing the old schoolhouse, Jill has spent a year applying for planning permission, researching renovation processes and coordinating a plan. Now it’s time to put all her preparatory work into action.
Project managing this renovation, Jill has extensively researched and planned every detail. But now that she’s putting it into practice, will it all go to plan? And is Jill ready to leave her glamorous life in Dublin behind and face a long commute for a night out with friends? Brendan Courtney visits Jill in January 2026 to see her finished home.
New Ross, Co Wexford
New Ross couple Aileen and Aaron have been living in Aaron's mother, Joan’s, house for the past 18 years – ever since Joan moved to the Cayman Islands. But over the years and with the arrival of their two children, Olivia and Oscar, and the additions of Ivy the dog and Bungy the rabbit, they have long outgrown their two-bedroom house.
With Joan’s approval, Aileen and Aaron have sold the house and have bought a beautiful old Victorian townhouse that will have enough room for this multi-generational family.
With their limited budget, first time DIYer’s Aileen and Aaron will need to take on more of the work themselves than originally anticipated. It has always been Aileen’s dream to renovate an old house, and both she and Aaron are making the renovation of their beautiful mid- terrace townhouse a family affair. But with Aaron’s mother, Joan, moving back from the Cayman Islands earlier than expected, the pressure is on to get this family under their new roof. However, a self-build renovation rarely goes exactly to plan and in the meantime they’re reliant on family for a place to live.
