Cork family home to feature on TV show

A Cork home is to be featured on episode one of the RTÉ Home of the Year programme, which returns for season 11 on Tuesday, February 18 at 8.30pm on RTÉ One.

Ross and Susan O’Donovan live in Cork with their young son, Jack.

Mr O’Donovan inherited a manor house and farm from his grandfather. The home is 180 years old and has been in the family for over 50 years.

The couple are hugely committed to a sympathetic restoration, right down to the very smallest detail.

The O’Donovan’s take the time and effort to restore many elements such as the sash windows and shutters, the original ceiling cornices, and ceiling roses, and the original architraves, doors, and rim locks.

When working on the house, the O’Donovan’s have made sure to complete works that will secure the home for years to come, so that it can stay in the family for future generations.

Dublin-based interior designer Siobhan Lam joins the returning judges Hugh Wallace, architect and founding partner of Douglas Wallace Consultants, and award winning architect Amanda Bone of Amanda Bone Architects, on her first foray into the world of television

On the upcoming series of Home Of The Year, Mr Wallace said: 

“What I love most about Home of the Year is getting to see the incredible creativity, personality, and individuality that homeowners bring to where they live. A home isn’t just about good design—it needs to be functional, with a layout that works, lighting that enhances a room, and an ability to capture views. But above all, a truly amazing home should bring joy.”

This year, Home of the Year will see stunning homes featured in the counties of Cork, Carlow, Derry, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, and Wicklow.

Each week, the judges will visit three homes and score them out of 10 based on individuality, functionality and clever design.

The home with the highest combined score in each episode will advance to the grand final in April.