Offaly house is runner-up as RTE's 'Home of the Year' winner announced
A couple's bungalow in Offaly was one of seven finalists in this year's season of the popular RTÉ series Home of the Year, which concluded last night (Tuesday).
The trophy in this, the tenth series of the show, was lifted by Marty Campbell and Shane Murray for their renovated 1920s terraced home in Dublin.
In last night's final the three judges, Hugh Wallace, Amanda Bone and Sara Cosgrove recapped the seven stunning finalists of Home of the Year.
They included the Offaly home of Rebecca and Eamonn McMackin, a completely renovated 1950s bungalow in which the couple live with their two young children.
The house had greatly impressed the judges during their visit, which was shown on the programme last month.
"We were in Offaly but, to be honest, I felt like we could be in LA," said Sara Cosgrove after she toured the property.
When the Home of the Year winners, Shane and Marty, purchased their house in Dublin in 2022 it was in a state of disrepair.
Renovating the home was a big project which involved upgrading the heating system, replacing windows and knocking down a wall.
They also repositioned the kitchen and gutted the interior and exterior of the home and changed the front garden layout to allow for an electric charging station for a car.
Speaking after they were announced as overall winners, Marty and Shane said: "We are over the moon. We are delighted. It's been such a great experience, so we are happy, proud, all those emotions!
"We didn't believe we'd get into the final. We didn't believe we would win it, so it's been amazing. Seeing the standard of the homes. I just don't know how the judges picked so hats off to everyone else who made the final."
One of the judges, architect Hugh Wallace, said: "This series we visited so many yummy homes up and down the country and, as always, it's been an absolute pleasure to see the creativity and design flair of all the homeowners. Home of the Year is a great escape - what a joy!"