Waterford star returns home in new TG4 series featuring historical local landmark's revival

Waterford's own Carrie Crowley is set to front a brand-new TG4 series that explores how communities across Ireland are breathing new life into derelict and abandoned buildings.

The six-part series, Buildings Beo, airs on Irish screens on Thursday, September 18, at 9:30 pm, with Crowley travelling the country to uncover stories of heritage sites being transformed into vibrant community spaces.

And for Waterford viewers, one episode will be particularly close to home. On Thursday, October 2, Crowley returns to her native county to shine a light on the revival of the historic Mount Congreve estate.

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The episode explores the legacy of Ambrose Congreve, the passionate gardener who entrusted the estate to the Irish State when he passed away in 2011 at the age of 104.

Carrie unveils the ambitious plans for the estate's restoration, a project that seeks to honour its storied past while ushering in a new era of vitality. She'll follow Mount Congreve's revival, including the creation of a first-class café featuring ingredients grown onsite and meticulously curated retail spaces, all honouring Ambrose's vision and legacy.

Producers say the show is a "property show with a difference: it's not only about the renovation of heritage buildings all around the country, but also about the people and the communities who bring these buildings to life".

With over 166,000 vacant buildings in Ireland today, Buildings Beo sheds light on the urgent need for renewal of abandoned spaces, with each episode following the journey of a different restoration, showcasing the trials, tribulations and triumphs that come with preserving Ireland's architectural heritage.

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Other episodes in the series will feature the transformation of Hope Castle Gate Lodge into a thriving library in Castleblayney, a disused railway building into a youth hub in Leitrim, and a fire-ravaged cinema in Cork reborn as a modern theatre. Each story culminates in a final reveal as the hard work and passion of local people is brought to life on screen.

Speaking ahead of the launch, TG4 described the programme as "a celebration of Ireland's rich cultural and architectural heritage," with Crowley meeting the architects, builders and volunteers at the heart of the restorations.

Buildings Beo begins on TG4 on Thursday, September 18 at 9.30pm, with the Waterford episode on Mount Congreve airing on Thursday, October 2.