Baz visits Lough Boora amid ‘DIYSOS: The Big Build Ireland' renovation in Walsh Island
Irish television star Baz Ashmawy has paid a visit to Lough Boora today (Thursday) amid a ‘DIYSOS: The Big Build Ireland' renovation taking place in Walsh Island.
Baz and the team will be in Offaly until Thursday, September 10, to rally the troops to help Noah and the Harte Family.
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.
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 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.