Former post office in Cork to star in new series of The Great House Revival

Hugh Wallace visits Butlerstown, Co Cork, where the one-time village hub is to be transformed into a family home

Tue, 04 Feb, 2025 - 15:12

Eve Kelliher

A Cork family is keen to put its stamp on a former post office.

Timmie O’Brien and his partner Siobhan share their vision with architect Hugh Wallace when he visits them in Butlerstown, Co Cork, during the new series of The Great House Revival.

The couple want to restore the old building as their “forever home” for themselves and their two young sons, Jimmy and Miah, as we will discover in episode one on RTÉ One this Sunday, February 9.

When we meet Siobhan and Timmie they are already a few years into the project, but they have run out of steam and work has stalled. The renovation of the house and shop, and spiralling costs have made the project overwhelming.

Hugh Wallace with Siobhan and Timmie at the former post office in Butlerstown, Co Cork.

But under Hugh’s guidance, the couple get a second wind. Timmie spends every spare moment onsite while Siobhán balances raising their two children with work and helping Timmie manage the build.

The journey charting the highs and lows of home renovation sees the celeb architect voyage across the Irish countryside sharing the stories of homeowners who have transformed derelict and unloved properties.

Other restoration projects in the extended eight-week series include a herdsman's cottage nestled in the heart of the Burren, Co Clare, a derelict cowshed being transformed into a contemporary home and an artist’s dream conversion of a Victorian townhouse into her home and studio on Douglas Street, Cork.

We head to Rathmullan, Co Donegal, where a former seaside guesthouse is transformed into a cosy and stylish retreat, and St Mullins, Co Carlow, to see a ruinous farmhouse and sheds are lovingly brought back to life as a first home for a young couple.

Back in Munster, a traditional stone farm cottage is authentically restored in Knocknagoshel, Co Kerry, and in West Cork, a dilapidated country house gets a new lease of life as a spacious family home.

These are not your typical high-end renovation projects. The series showcases the ingenuity and determination of everyday people who are taking on the challenge of restoring derelict and forgotten properties, according to Hugh: “They are creating comfortable, functional homes full of character and charm while working within sensible budgets.”

With budgets ranging from €75,000 to €400,000, the architect will find out just what is possible to achieve when people set their hearts on their ideal home. The Great House Revival is a celebration of Ireland’s architectural heritage, says Hugh: “The old buildings which feature throughout the series were once an integral part of our towns and villages, woven into the very fabric of their history.

"Many were once schools, shops, or public spaces, and now, with great vision and respect for their past, they are being transformed into extraordinary homes.”

This way they are “making the most sustainable choice possible—the greenest building is the one that already exists”, adds the architect: “The series proves that by choosing to renovate rather than rebuild, homeowners achieve not only a more character-filled and meaningful space but also better value for money.

"‘The Great House Revival’ is a testament to the courage and creativity of those who dare to breathe new life into forgotten places, ensuring they remain part of our landscape for generations to come,” he says.