Carrie Crowley to showcase building revivals around the country
Carrie Crowley at Mount Congreve in her native Waterford
Building Beo is a property show with a difference and starring Waterford's own, Carrie Crowley.
The show is not only about the renovation of heritage buildings all around the country, but also about the people and the communities who bring these buildings to life.
A six-part series, the show takes a closer look at six inspiring projects across Ireland, where derelict architectural legacies are being preserved and transformed into vital community spaces, and one of them is in County Waterford.
With over 166,000 vacant buildings in Ireland today, Buildings Beo sheds light on the urgent need for renewal of abandoned spaces. With projects ranging from historical mills to old schoolhouses, each episode follows the journey of a different restoration, showcasing the trials, tribulations and triumphs that come with preserving Ireland's architectural heritage.
Some of the remarkable restorations include the transformation of the historic Hope Castle Gate Lodge into a thriving community library in Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, the revival of a railway building into a digital hub and youth centre in Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, and the redevelopment of a fire-ravaged cinema into a state-of-the-art local theatre in Cork's market town of Macroom.
Throughout the series, Carrie meets with the builders, architects, and communities driving the restoration projects, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the transformation process. Through compelling storytelling and stunning visuals, Buildings Beo, celebrates Ireland's rich cultural and architectural heritage, demonstrating how it takes a village to make a 'building beo'.
Produced by New Departures Media, the show - which will air on TG4 - will focus attention on Mount Congreve in Waterford on Wednesday, December 3, at 8.30pm
In the episode, Carrie returns to her home county, where she explores the historic Mount Congreve estate. Viewers will see her delve into the legacy of Ambrose Congreve, a passionate gardener who entrusted Mt Congreve to the Irish state when he died in 2011, aged 104.
Carrie unveils the ambitious plans for the estate's restoration-a project that seeks to honour its storied past while ushering in a new era of vitality.
She'll follow Mount Congreve's revival, including the creation of a first-class café featuring ingredients grown onsite and meticulously curated retail spaces, all honouring Ambrose's vision and legacy.
Other buildings featured in the series will include: Hope Castle Gate Lodge (Castleblayney, Monaghan) - TG4 Wednesday, November 19, at 8.30pm. In the episode Carrie pays a visit to the historic town of Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, which takes its name from Blayney Castle, once the focal point of the area. Renamed 'Hope Castle' in the 1850s, the castle's gate lodge fell into disrepair with the passage of time. In the episode, Carrie will follow along as the local townspeople come together to reimagine the space. She'll watch first-hand as the forgotten lodge, situated off the historic market square and by the picturesque public park surrounding Loch Muckno, is reimagined as a state-of-the-art library beloved by residents of all ages.
On Wednesday, November 26, it will be turn of Ballinamore, in Co Leitrim, where the town's Ballinamore Junction railway station comes under the spotlight.
Viewers will see Carrie fall in love with the town's old railway station, which had fallen into disuse and dereliction. She'll learn how Ballinamore Community Council devised an exciting plan to revitalise the area by transforming the stunning red-brick junction house into a dynamic multi-purpose hub: the beating heart of the town. From conception to completion, she'll meet a colourful cast of characters who are all united in their mission to breathe new life into the junction house.
On Wednesday, December 3 it's the turn of the aforementioned Mount Congreve and then the following week, on Wednesday, December 10, the spotlight will fall on the Old Mill/James O'Neill Building in Kinsale.
In that episode viewers will watch Carrie look into the transformation of a disused Old Mill building into a vibrant community space and library. The historic building presents significant challenges for the team, as Carrie discovers when she explores the design process and learns about the building's protected status and its location within an architectural protection zone. She'll see first-hand the meticulous efforts to preserve historical significance and learn as the new library takes shape, how it promises to be more than just a repository of books, but also a much-needed community space, bridging past and present in the town.
The penultimate episode in the series will enabled viewers to see the Old School House in Monkstown, in South County Dublin, undergo a transformation into a vibrant community hub under the guidance of the local Church of Ireland rector.
Carrie will discover how this refurbished schoolhouse will serve as a gathering place for the local art group and Tidy District, offering a space for community activities and creativity to flourish.
The final episode will see Carrie visit the The Briery Gap Theatre and Cultural Centre in Macroom, in Co Cork. A bustling market town, the building was an iconic and beloved theatre and cultural hub, left derelict since a devastating fire. From cherished Christmas pantomimes to the lasting legacy of the local drama group, Carrie uncovers the void left by the Briery Gap and the eagerness to see it restored to its former glory.
As the team overcomes the challenges of breathing new life into an old theatre, Carrie watches as the curtain finally comes up on a revitalised Briery Gap, a vibrant cultural centre-piece right in the heart of the town.
