Episode 1 – Cork
Adam Drummond is an extremely driven and talented 22 year old former Irish International basketball player from Cork, who has also played College basketball in the United States on two separate scholarships. In May of 2021, Adam fell from a height while staying with friends in Cork and has been told that there is a one percent chance he will walk again.
He is currently adjusting to life in a wheelchair, and he and his parents had to move out of their home in North Cork as it is completely unsuitable for a wheelchair user. They moved into a friend’s apartment, and the DIY SOS team came to Cork to rebuild their house in order to allow Adam to live in his family home once again. With this build, the DIY SOS team hope to provide Adam and his family with a positive path for his continuing adjustment to life in a wheelchair, while also giving him the independence he needs as a young adult.
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Baz is joined by a top team, with renowned designers Aoife Rhattigan taking on the Cork build, and Kerry Hiddleston designing the remaining homes across Athlone, Ennis and Sligo. Diarmuid Gavin showcases complex garden designs three of the homes, and Leonie Cornelius takes on an ambitious garden design in Athlone. DIY SOS is famous for bringing out the very best in people, and with each build this becomes even more evident.
Four houses and four gardens, all completed in 2022 resulted in DIY SOS’ busiest build year to date. The generosity and support of a dedicated team of volunteers and suppliers resulted in the completion of these stunning homes and gardens, each meticulously designed to meet the specific needs of four incredibly worthy families.
The first episode sees Baz and his team take on a challenging renovation in Cork city. Adam Drummond is a talented 22-year-old former Irish International basketball player from Cork, who is adjusting to life in a wheelchair. Adam, who played college basketball in the United States, fell from a height in May 2021 and has been told that there is a one percent chance that he will ever walk again.
As their home is completely unsuitable for a wheelchair user, the DIY SOS team took on this challenging rebuild so that Adam could move back into his family home. The team hope to provide Adam and his family with a positive path for his continuing adjustment to life in a wheelchair, while also giving him the independence he needs as a young adult.
The second episode was filmed in Athlone, Co Westmeath where the team of volunteers renovated the home of Fireman Pa Berry, who suffered extensive injuries in the line of duty, which have left him without independence, out of work and looking towards a long and arduous road to recovery. Pa and his partner Nicky were in desperate need of help in completing their home renovation to make it safe and secure for their three young children.
The third episode meets the Mulvey-Sydney family in Ennis, Co. Clare. 13-year-old Isabella Mulvey-Sydney was born with a rare congenital disorder called “Lumbar Sacral Agenesis”, which resulted in both her legs being amputated at the age of seven. The family home was completely unsuitable to Isabella’s needs, and its inaccessibility was causing physical pain to Isabella and her parents.
Finally, in Episode 4 the team packed up their tools and headed to Coolaney, Sligo to meet Claire Carpenter and her partner Ross Mannion and their three children. The DIY SOS team and the local community came together in their droves to provide their home with vital adaptations that would allow Claire to return home from hospital after she suffered a serious stroke. Ross, a former player and coach with Connacht Rugby, is well known in their local area and legions of people came out to assist on this very worthy build.
