Historians seeking to understand early 21st century Ireland will turn to this boring TV – Irish Times

Centuries from now, historians seeking to understand life in Ireland in the early 21st century will inevitably turn to Room to Improvement (RTÉ One, Sunday, 9.30pm) as a key text. It will be. They’ll be amazed at our obsession with expansive kitchens and “scenic” views of murky fields and grimy horizons. And they’ll be surprised by the unfathomable optimism of Dermot Bannon, the household whisperer. Architect Dermot Bannon’s love of giant windows is only overshadowed by a constant supply of chipperness. Why didn’t we connect him to the national power grid and use his jet-propelled agility to fuel peat-burning power plants?

Bannon’s buoyancy is crucial as the show’s 14th season begins. Their first outing is to the Kilkenny countryside, where Grainne Murphy and Ivan Williams are renovating an 18th century farmhouse. This building has been owned by the Ivan family of farmers for generations.

But while he and his wife, Grainne, love the Creaking Mountains, they’re short on money. Their budget is “just” €200,000 for a new roof, complete interior refurbishment and new kitchen extension.

What they lack in funds they make up for in enthusiasm, so much so that they started work before Bannon showed up. “Oh my god,” he exclaimed upon arrival. “This is a complete construction site. They’re doing everything backwards.”

‘Room to Improvement’ is a home improvement series, but it’s also a glimpse into the Irish spirit. It celebrates the constant tension within all of us to be seen living our best lives, especially by our neighbors. , on the one hand, we want outsiders to be close at arm’s length.

For Grain and Ivan, the biggest challenge is taking advantage of the multiple grants available to restore abandoned buildings. There are many possibilities for financial support, but you need to know when and how to apply.

Fortunately, Mr. Bannon is right around the corner. He doesn’t just help with paperwork; He also plans and budgets space to make Grain’s dream of real wood flooring a reality.

Seasoned Room for Improvement viewers have likely seen it all before. If anything, it’s a playful little addition to home improvement TV. Ivan and Gráinne are crazy dreamers, realistic about what they can and cannot achieve, and take Bannon’s advice to heart.

This is a plus in terms of getting the project over the line. But that makes television overwhelming. Ah, the classic Room to Improvement conflict where the people in the house either ignore Bannon or are outright against him. Torn between panic and frustration, he takes off his helmet and wipes off a gallon of sweat. Although the show celebrates the success of the transformation, what remains in the memory is the near-disaster event. Expect some real drama in the coming weeks.