Work to start on TV show transformation of Offaly family's home
A major building project to transform the home of an Offaly family raising three children with autism and complex additional needs will get underway on Tuesday next, September 1.
The work, being filmed for an upcoming episode of the RTÉ series DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland, will take place at the Harte family home in Coolagary, Walsh Island.
Damien, an Offaly native, and his wife Hazel, originally from Dublin, are parents to Ollie, Noah, and Meadow, each of whom has varying levels of autism.
Over recent months an appeal has been issued for tradespeople and others to volunteer their time to help adapt the family's home into a safe and "sensory-friendly" space.
The work on site is set to take place from Tuesday, September 1, until Thursday, September 10, and a spokesperson for DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland told the Offaly Independent it was "all systems go" for next week.
"The response has been amazing from the local community and parish, through to neighbouring counties and even further afield," said the show's spokesperson.
"We always welcome more people - if anyone wants to call down or get in touch ahead of time, they can email diysosoffaly@indiepics.ie or contact us on 083 8897216.
"We will have a supporting site with catering facilities and will welcome anyone down at any stage of the build."
The programme, hosted by Baz Ashmawy, is due to air on RTÉ One in the coming months, with a date in October or November currently being targeted.
The mission of the DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland series is to undertake construction projects that will make a major and lasting difference to the lives of the families featured.
The Harte family's children are Ollie, the eldest, who is known for his love of conversation and his ability to share fascinating facts about his favourite subjects. Meadow, the youngest, was recently diagnosed with autism and approaches life with confidence and charm.
For six-year-old Noah, however, daily life presents significant challenges. Alongside his autism diagnosis, Noah has Global Developmental Delay and an intellectual disability.
He is non-verbal and experiences severe emotional dysregulation, leading to daily meltdowns that are deeply distressing for both him and his family.
During these episodes, Noah often screams in a high-pitched tone and covers his ears in apparent anguish. His siblings are also affected, with Meadow instinctively covering her ears and Ollie finding the situations particularly upsetting.
Noah also has no awareness of danger and does not respond to his name, placing him at constant risk of wandering off unexpectedly. For safety, he relies on a specialised buggy during outings, but this solution is becoming increasingly difficult as he grows older and stronger.
Following advice from Noah’s psychologist, the family purchased their current home in the hope of creating a stable and supportive environment.
However, ongoing problems including leaks, structural issues and repeated repair costs have hampered progress.
The family says the property is cold, damp, and affected by mould, while its layout is unsuitable for a household managing complex sensory and emotional needs.
It's hoped that, as a result of the upcoming project, the Harte family will have a home in which they can continue to support Noah as he grows into adulthood.