DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland– the show that changes people’s homes & lives – is coming to RTÉ One on Sunday evenings.
Presenter Baz Ashmawy and his team set out to renovate the homes of deserving families, changing their lives forever – but with only 9 days to transform each home, and solely dependent on the generosity of volunteer trades and supplier donations – the pressure is truly on!
As a series, DIY SOS: The Big Build is famous for bringing out the very best in people – in each & every episode an army of volunteer builders, labourers, trades, suppliers, friends & neighbours come together giving their time, labour and materials to help a local family whose lives have been impacted by a significant loss or misfortune.
While emotional and totally heartfelt, DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland is full of warmth and humour. It’s also the perfect platform to showcase Ireland’s unbelievable community spirit – the generosity, dedication and spirit of the big-hearted volunteers & suppliers who will work tirelessly to help change someone’s life in a really tangible way – by making their house a home again. For instance – in Limerick, 450 volunteers and suppliers gave of their time and materials to turn Amy Mulcahy’s house into a fully functioning and beautiful home.
Over the last 12 months, DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland helped convert the homes of three deserving families – The Barry Family in Dundrum, Co. Tipperary, The Mulcahy Family in Annacotty Co. Limerick and the Guihen Family in Co Kildare.
EPISODE 1 – LIMERICK
In February DIY SOS renovated the home of Amy Mulcahy (13), who was left with a life altering brain injury after a rowing accident in Limerick in February 2019. Amy was not expected to survive the accident, as she was trapped under water for a number of minutes, before being rescued by Limerick Fire Service, who by sheer coincidence were performing a training exercise on the riverbank. Anyhow, since an early and grim prognosis Amy has defied all the odds, endured months of hospitalisation in Dublin and was eventually moved back home to Annacotty. However, Amy’s rehabilitation at home was severely hampered, as she was sleeping downstairs in the family sitting room and was unable to access the upstairs bathroom etc., as she needs to use a wheelchair for mobility. So that is where the DIY SOS team stepped in by completing revamping the family home in 9 days and giving Amy back some privacy and dignity within her own family home, which she shares with her wonderfully, warm and positive mother Sharon, her brother Calum (early 20s) and his energetic three year old twin nephews, Leo and Ashton.