Episode Four: Coralstown, Co. Westmeath
Jill Leavy had been on the hunt for her first home in Dublin, with her parents in tow, for some time. Her parents were appalled by the huge demand and high asking prices for one-bedroom apartments in the capital, and encouraged Jill to look for better value closer to her family home in Westmeath.
And that’s when her Dad, Vincent introduced her to his old primary school in Coralstown. Built in 1932, the old two-roomed school had been shut down to make way for a bigger and more modern primary school, better suited to serving the community. Since purchasing the old schoolhouse, Jill has spent a year applying for planning permission, researching renovation processes and coordinating a plan. Now it’s time to put all her preparatory work into action.
Project managing this renovation, Jill has extensively researched and planned every detail. But now that she’s putting it into practice, will it all go to plan? And is Jill ready to leave her glamorous life in Dublin behind and face a long commute for a night out with friends? Brendan Courtney visits Jill in January 2026 to see her finished home.
