Heather is a journalist and deputy editor of Selfbuild Magazine. She’s previously edited construction trade publications in Ireland and the UK, along with expat living magazines in the Canary Islands and Tuscany. Now based in Co. Kilkenny, she and her partner are taking on their biggest project yet — turning a former residential outdoor pursuits centre into a family home!
The Architectural Association of Ireland (AAI) Awards reliably delivers exceptional projects with its awards, and this year is no different. Here, we highlight the winners and notable mentions, offering clever ideas to inspire your self-build plans. In this article we cover: Award Winners High Street, Balbriggan – Robert Bourke Architects This 6sqm all-timber micro extension […] More
The ‘Bringing Back Homes Manual’ provides technical and grant advice to those renovating a vacant or derelict building in ROI. In this article, we cover: The ROI Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has published an updated version of its Bringing Back Homes Manual. The guide reflects changes in policies and grants for property […] More
As the draft Transport Plan for ROI undergoes public consultation, rural advocates are calling for fairness and equitable treatment for people living and wanting to build in rural areas. In this article we cover: The proposed transport plan by the Department of Transport, aiming to reduce emissions, has sparked criticism from rural advocates and TDs […] More
Temporary waiver on development contributions drives the largest increase in new build starts since records began, and Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien indicates it will be extended until the end of 2024. In this article we cover: Incoming Taoiseach Simon Harris has pledged more supports for self-builders in the form of extending both the help […] More
This project in Co Dublin initially started as a small kitchen extension and quickly turned into a major renovation; this is how Marie Behan went about it. In this article we cover: The house Marie originally bought in 2016 was far from ideal for her needs. It was clear back then that it would need […] More
If you plan on building or extending a house in Ireland, know that you will have to pay local authority fees in both NI and ROI; this is your comprehensive guide to what you can expect to pay in your own county. In this article we cover: Starting a self-build journey is thrilling, but […] More
Discover how Micheal McKeon chose to build his home in Co Longford out of Insulating Concrete Formwork, or ICF. In this article we cover: Michael grew up on a small farm in Co Longford which has been in his family for three generations. “The site I built on is roughly a mile and a half […] More
Matthew and Hannah Sterrett share what they learned from building their budget-friendly family home in Co Tyrone. In this article we cover: Matthew and Hannah describe the process of project managing their self-build home built on Hannah’s family farm as being “a collective effort”. “At first, we were handling the initial, planning stages from our […] More
The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) Annual Residential Market Monitor suggests that residential property prices are expected to stay steady for a while, adding that conveyancing is becoming a concern as are ‘false hope’ vacant property grants. In this article, we cover: Estate agents in the survey predict a small 1 per cent increase […] More
Eco-builder Harrison Gardner opens his doors to chat about his home renovation project in Co Clare. In this article we cover: Embarking on a 10 year journey across the globe, Australian eco-builder and host of RTÉ’s Build Your Own series, Harrison Gardner sought to master a diverse array of alternative build techniques. It was in […] More
How a retired couple in Dublin downsized in their own garden by creating an infill house. In this article we cover: “Living and raising our family in our semi-detached house in Rathfarnham, with its beautiful garden, was wonderful for over 30 years,” says Linde. “We loved tending to the vegetables and enjoying the privacy and […] More
The roll out of the ROI government’s grants has been off to a slow start with only 21 drawdowns for the vacant properties grant in 18 months, and just 8 serviced sites made available under the Ready to Build scheme within a year. The Ready to Build scheme has only offered eight sites to self-builders […] More