SERIES 2, EPISODE 5: BORRISOLEIGH, TIPPERARY
This week sees the restoration of a historic doctor’s house and dispensary dating back to the early 1800s.
Borrisoleigh native Frances Doherty kept a close eye on the sale of her childhood doctor’s house over the years before purchasing it in 2017 for €67,000. Together with her husband, Tom, the couple’s dream is to create their forever home in Frances’s childhood village. With a coach house and numerous outbuildings, Frances plans to have the project finished in time for her imminent retirement.
Being a listed building means that strict guidelines and traditional methods will have to be followed and used to bring this property to comfortable living standards, whilst retaining its original quirks and features. With a roof to repair, 23 windows to restore, walls to knock, rotting timbers and decaying bricks to contend with, a collapsing staircase and dangerous working conditions for the building team, their restoration is no simple task.
Frances and Tom plan to turn their hand to whatever work they can do onsite to help with their budget, which is €240-250k . This means that they will be able to keep a keen eye on the budget while engaging with very part of the restoration process.