RTE’s ‘Room to Improve’ star Claire Irwin has revealed what she thinks is the secret behind the popularity of the show.
The Buncrana woman has become part and parcel of the show alongside architect Dermot Bannon.
The show has burst back onto screens and is as popular as ever.
No-nonsense Claire, who made her TV debut on the show in 2019, may not have to come up with the lofty designs drawn out by Dermot.
But she does have to ensure that the budgets of those grand dreams are realistic for hopeful families looking to turn their old homes into homes of the future.
Claire has a simple philosophy as to why the show is a ratings-topper.
Claire Irwin on the new series of Room to Improve. Pic: Andres Poveda.
She said: “I think everybody wants to improve their own home.
“I’ve never met somebody that was 100% happy with their current home.
“Everybody has aspirations and dreams and people love looking at other people’s houses.”
Claire is a champion of renovating homes and recently backed plans to give grants to renovate vacant and derelict homes.
She was delighted by recent grants to renovate 10 vacant and derelict homes in the Buncrana area and the spin-off form those grants for the economy locally.
She posted on her social media “This was made up of 9 soon-to-be rental properties and 1 primary residence that will be brought back to life over the coming months in our town.
“10 construction projects for local contractors and subcontractors to tackle over the next year, 10 jobs for the local hardware stores to provide materials to, 10 kitchens, 10 sets of windows and doors, 10 sofas, 10 kitchen tables, 10 heat pumps and 10 SEAI grants! This grant offers a game changing cash injection to a vacant property project.”
