Buildings Beo

Name: Buildings Beo
Released: 2025

2025Series

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Giving neglected buildings another life

Buildings Beo follows Carrie Crowley around Ireland as communities restore derelict or dilapidated properties. Its focus is the relationship between an old building and the people working to give it a new use. Architectural exploration and community life therefore develop together through the series.

The programme’s premise extends beyond the appearance of a completed renovation. Abandoned spaces are brought back into use, with local needs shaping what they become. That makes it a series about the social purpose of restoration as well as the survival of historic architecture.

Libraries, a railway building and a theatre

The six-part series includes projects ranging from mills to schoolhouses. One example is the historic Hope Castle Gate Lodge in Castleblayney, County Monaghan, transformed into a community library. The new use connects the architectural legacy with a place intended for everyday public life.

Other projects include a railway building in Ballinamore, County Leitrim, revived as a digital hub and youth centre, and a fire-damaged cinema in Macroom, County Cork, redeveloped as a local theatre. Their different purposes give the series several ways to consider what a community needs from a building.

Heritage connected to present-day needs

TG4’s description, quoted by RTÉ, emphasizes both heritage renovation and the people who bring the properties to life. Crowley’s role is to explore those connections across the country. The common thread is an existing place being reconsidered through the work and ambitions of the community around it.

A library, a youth space and a theatre make different demands on an older property. Each restoration project must balance what it preserves with the changes needed to make the building usable again. The intended use gives the work a purpose beyond the building itself.

Episodes

S01 · E01

Hope Castle Gate Lodge (Castleblayney, Monaghan)

First up for Carrie is a visit to the historic town of Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, which takes its name from Blayney Castle, once the focal point of the area. Renamed 'Hope Castle' in the 1850s, the castle's gate lodge fell into disrepair with the passage of time. In this episode, Carrie will follow along as the local townspeople come together to reimagine the space. She'll watch first-hand as the forgotten lodge, situated off the historic market square and by the picturesque public park surrounding Loch Muckno, is reimagined as a state-of-the-art library beloved by residents of all ages.

S01 · E02

Ballinamore Junction (Leitrim)

Carrie heads to the idyllic town of Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, where she falls in love with the town's old railway station, which has fallen into disuse and dereliction. She'll learn of how Ballinamore Community Council devised an exciting plan to revitalise the area by transforming the stunning red-brick junction house into a dynamic multi-purpose hub: the beating heart of the town. From conception to completion, she'll meet a colourful cast of characters who are all united in their mission to breathe new life into the junction house.

S01 · E03

Mount Congreve (Waterford)

In this episode, Carrie returns to her home county of Waterford, where she explores the historic Mount Congreve estate. Carrie delves into the legacy of Ambrose Congreve, a passionate gardener who entrusted Mt Congreve to the Irish state when he died in 2011 aged 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.

S01 · E04

The Old Mill/James O' Neill Building (Kinsale)

It's off to Ireland's foodie capital, Kinsale, in this episode, as Carrie delves into the transformation of a disused Old Mill building into a vibrant community space and library. This historic building presents significant challenges for the team, as Carrie discovers when she explores the design process and learns about the building's protected status and its location within an architectural protection zone. She'll see first-hand the meticulous efforts to preserve historical significance and learn as the new library takes shape, how it promises to be more than just a repository of books, but also a much-needed community space, bridging past and present in the town.

S01 · E05

Old School House (Monkstown)

Carrie visits the charming seaside village of Monkstown in South County Dublin, where the local Church of Ireland rector has embarked on a remarkable project of transforming an old schoolhouse into a vibrant community hub. Carrie will discover how this refurbished schoolhouse will serve as a gathering place for the local art group and Tidy District, offering a space for community activities and creativity to flourish. With its genteel seaside charm and rich history, Monkstown's refurbished schoolhouse stands as a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives and the enduring spirit of preservation.

S01 · E06

The Briery Gap Theatre and Cultural Centre (Macroom)

Carrie visits the bustling market town of Macroom, Co. Cork, where the iconic Briery Gap, a beloved theatre and cultural hub left derelict since a devastating fire, takes centre stage. From cherished Christmas pantomimes to the lasting legacy of the local drama group, Carrie uncovers the void left by the Briery Gap and the eagerness to see it restored to its former glory. As the team overcomes the challenges of breathing new life into an old theatre, Carrie watches as the curtain finally comes up on a revitalised Briery Gap, a vibrant cultural centrepiece right in the heart of the town.

Episode descriptions: TVmaze · CC BY-SA 4.0

Film details

Format: Documentary series
Release year: 2025
Premiere date: 2025-11-19
Production companies: New Departures Media
Language: Irish

Catalogue information: TVmaze · CC BY-SA 4.0