Cheap European Homes: Cork's Carmel hopes to be bowled over in Spain

A champion road bowler from East Cork who is searching for a home in Spain appears on property show Cheap European Homes this weekend.

Carmel Carey, of Carrigtwohill, and her daughter Caoimhe are finally turning a long-held dream into reality by searching for a home in the country’s Murcia region.

With a €150,000 budget and Carmel’s husband coming from a construction background, they’re open to taking on a property with potential - and keen to immerse themselves in Spanish community life.

We follow their journey in Cheap European Homes on RTÉ1 on Sunday at 6.30pm, as presenters Maggie Molloy, Kevin McGahern and James Kavanagh join their search,

The trio help aspiring home-owners find stunning properties at unbeatable prices. From sun-soaked villas to charming countryside retreats, the series proves your dream home doesn’t have to break the bank.

Carmel won a a record-breaking 11 Munster Senior Ladies’ road bowling titles, and four national titles before she retired from the sport in 2021.

It was a career that started back in 1994 when she was just 16. The proximity of her family home to the road used for bowling in Carrigtwohill meant it was a sport she was destined to get involved in.

In 2012, Carmel’s career reached its pinnacle when she participated in the European Championships in Italy, and set a new world and European record by throwing 10 shots a total of 1,796.2 metres as well as a single shot record of 321.2 metres.

A magnificent house in Waterford is explored in Nationwide on RTÉ1 next Friday at 7pm.

Presenter Richard Downes visits Mount Congreve House & Gardens to see how income is being generated to maintain and preserve the property.

Home to six generations of the Congreve merchant family, the estate remained in their care until 2011, when the last family member, Ambrose Congreve, passed away and left the house and gardens to the people of Waterford.

Richard learns about the rich history of the house and hears about the tourism offering that now helps to sustain it. He also hears how the gate lodges of the estate have been restored to help with the costs of keeping this great facility open for visitors from home and abroad.