TV Stars to Share Property Revival Wisdom at Cork Event

Television personalities Hugh Wallace and Siobhan O'Mahony will headline Cork City Council's annual "Bringing Back Homes" event this month, offering practical guidance to owners of vacant and derelict properties across the city.

The third annual event takes place on Thursday, 25th September from 10:15am to 12:30pm at The Metropole Hotel on MacCurtain Street, featuring architect and TV presenter Hugh Wallace alongside The Great House Revival's Siobhan O'Mahony.

This year's programme promises more than just expert talks. Attendees will benefit from one-to-one consultations with staff from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and Cork City Council, covering everything from retrofitting and conservation to housing grants and the popular Repair & Lease scheme.

The timing couldn't be better for Cork property owners. Over 500 people have now applied for the city's Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, which offers up to €50,000 for vacant homes and up to €70,000 for derelict properties. With more than €27 million in grants currently being processed, the initiative is breathing new life into long-neglected buildings across the county.

Cork City Council continues its comprehensive approach to tackling dereliction, currently investigating 393 properties under the Derelict Sites Act 1990. Of these, 165 have been placed on the official Derelict Sites Register, with property owners specifically invited to attend the September event.

The council's community outreach efforts extend beyond the main event. A series of informal drop-in sessions have already visited Ballyphehane, Glanmire, and Blarney, with the final pop-up session of 2025 scheduled for Mayfield Library on 15th October.

These grassroots sessions provide residents with direct access to information about available supports, including the increasingly popular Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant scheme. Additional programmes such as the Repair & Lease initiative and the Living City Initiative continue to assist homeowners in returning empty properties to productive use.

Tickets for the September event remain free, though advance booking is strongly recommended. Walk-up attendees will only be accommodated if space permits on the day.

Property owners unable to attend shouldn't delay seeking assistance. The council encourages immediate contact through its website at corkcity.ie or via email at DerelictSites@corkcity.ie and VacantProperties@corkcity.ie.

Reservations can be made through Eventbrite by searching "bringing back homes cork" or by emailing UrbanFabric@corkcity.ie.