
Kate and Shane Byrne have lifted the coveted Home of the Year 2022 trophy for their 150-year-old farmhouse with modern extension in Co Wicklow.
The property has been in Shane's family for decades but when they moved in, in 2018, they knocked through all the smaller rooms and added an extension to create an open plan living space with lots of natural light. The family love the sense of history in their home and that their son is the fourth generation of the Byrne family to grow up there and that, in time, it will be a place for his own family.
The eighth series of Home of the Year saw the three judges Hugh Wallace, Amanda Bone and Sara Cosgrove visit 21 homes across the country but chose Kate and Shane's home as the ultimate winner.
Judge Hugh Wallace said: Arriving up you knew there was something special and walking through the door I just loved the hall. The scale and size of the kitchen was terrific and that big dining room table was smashing! It was amazing because once you went through that door you could just feel the heartbeat of this spectacular home. There's the intangible which is so important that feeling when you walk around the home: of the family, the fun, the history, the memories that are in that home that's what makes a home for me.
Judge Amanda Bone said: I thoroughly enjoyed traveling the length and breadth of Ireland experiencing the different topography the island has to offer which very much inspired the design of a lot of the homes. The views in particular from some of the homes were astounding, providing a constant reminder of what a beautiful country we live in. Seven homes made it through to the final but there were many more homes which truly deserved to be there. The winning home is a 19th century traditional farmhouse that has been refurbished and extended, this home is full of light, spacious, comfortable, uplifting and has a great connection with the surrounding landscape. Sometimes homes are all about how they make you feel and our winner just made you feel good!
Judge Sara Cosgrove said: Huge congratulations to the Byrne family and their Wicklow farmhouse. A hugely worthy winner of this year's Home of the Year. For me, the home had wonderful flow and had a lovely combination of old and new. I loved the living areas in particular, the unique u-shape layout and seamless connection to the outdoor terrace and farm beyond. The bedrooms also had a very serene feel, with the baby's bedroom in particular hitting a cheerful and uplifting note.
Winners Kate and Shane said: We are just so over the moon and blown away by the reaction to our home. For our farmhouse to make the final, never mind win is just so incredibly flattering. It is not something thing we could have ever imagined happening. Our house is a part of our family's history and is truly a home, not just a house. For the judges to see and recognise that is amazing. For us a home is not about the size of your floor plan or budget, instead what's important for our family is the feeling the house gives you and those that visit it. The other houses in the competition were beautiful and it's such an honour to have featured alongside them. Just being part of the competition is such a great experience and one I would highly recommend.
The other six finalists were:
More from RTE
15/07/2025
Peak audiences of over half a million tune into both Kerry v Tyrone and Donegal ...
14/07/2025
Enhancing Public Service Broadcasting with
Innovation, Accuracy & Sustainability
New regional detail and local towns featured...
07/07/2025
RT has announced that Mark Bignell has been appointed Commissioning Editor for Comedy following a public competition. This senior editorial position will drive...
04/07/2025
The Pitch comes to RT Radio 1 airwaves this Sunday at 7pm. The Pitch is a brand...
01/07/2025
The Traitors are coming: Get your first taste of the global hit as Season 1 of T...
01/07/2025
RT has announced that Teresa Smith has been appointed Commissioning Editor with responsibility for Factual Entertainment following a public competition. This s...
01/07/2025
This July, RT is delighted to support Galway International Arts Festival, Earagail Arts Festival in Donegal, Belfast TradFest and 23 other arts and cultural ev...
30/06/2025
All 8 episodes of Season 1 of 1923 will be available on RT Player from Tuesday ...
26/06/2025
Keeper Pictures, the Dublin-based scripted production company whose credits include The Gone and Striking Out, has optioned the exclusive TV adaptation rights t...
26/06/2025
This July, RT presents The Phone Box Babies, a documentary revealing new insigh...
25/06/2025
RT has confirmed its Monday night television series, Upfront with Katie Hannon has come to an end and will not be returning in September following three season...
24/06/2025
Women's Euros, Women's Rugby World Cup, European Hockey Championships, GAA Championships, World Athletics Championships, Irish Open, Horse Racing and mu...
24/06/2025
RT has today announced details of its summer line-up of home-grown documentarie...
19/06/2025
RT and ITV have today announced that filming is underway in Dublin on the third and final series of Element Pictures' award-winning 8 30' comedy drama ...
18/06/2025
To date the Toy Show Appeal has raised over 26 million since its inception in 2...
16/06/2025
Run with Ray is back! RT Radio 1's The Ray D'Arcy Show hits the road th...
13/06/2025
In fulfilment of a recommendation by the Government's Expert Advisory Commit...
11/06/2025
RT Commercial has today announced Mercedes-Benz Ireland as the car partner of The Traitors Ireland, coming to RT One and RT Player in the Autumn.
Mercedes-B...
10/06/2025
Family described their shock and distress at seeing footage of their father bein...
06/06/2025
Monday 9 June, 8pm on RT One and RT Player
Hip hop duo Tebi Rex, K la's R n n Snodaigh, John Spillane and Eve Belle among mentors
Promo: An Ghig Mh ...
05/06/2025
Stuart Carolan and Chris Addison team up on darkly comedic drama starring Ella Lily Hyland, Aidan Gillen, Phillipa Dunne and Packy Lee
From top left to right: ...
04/06/2025
Experts condemn leading private nursing home care provided referring to instance...
04/06/2025
Experts condemn leading private nursing home care provided referring to instance...
03/06/2025
This June, RT is delighted to support 20 arts and cultural events all over Ireland spanning art, theatre, film, writing and literature, multiple genres of musi...
03/06/2025
RT is pleased to announce the appointment of David Crean as Head of Drama, following an external competition.
After an earlier career as a director and a prod...
02/06/2025
RT Commercial has announced laya healthcare, as the new sponsor of 2FM Breakfas...
31/05/2025
RT Investigates: Inside Ireland's Nursing Homes | RT YouTube
RT will broadcast an RT Investigates documentary with undercover footage relating to sta...
30/05/2025
Stolen Sister | RT Radio Player YouTube
Sisters of Elizabeth Plunkett, who was murdered by Ireland's first serial killers, speak for this first time i...
29/05/2025
Dragon Hearts- RT documentary follows cancer survivors united through the power...
29/05/2025
2FM is hitting the road this summer, broadcasting live from Ireland's biggest music festivals, starting with Forbidden Fruit this June Bank Holiday weekend....
29/05/2025
Aistear an Amhr in RT series reveals fascinating stories behind Ireland's ...
28/05/2025
This summer, RT , in collaboration with Ireland's vibrant independent produc...
28/05/2025
Debbie Brophy has been crowned the winner of Super Garden 2025. The garden design challenge, now in its 16th series, has once again showcased the extraordinary ...
27/05/2025
RT is pleased to announce the appointment of Hugh Ormond to the new role, Head of Podcasting, following an internal competition.
In this pivotal role to the ...
27/05/2025
RT will meet with the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport on Wednesday 28th May, 2025.
The Committee identified a nu...
23/05/2025
In an email to RT staff this evening, RT Director General stated as follows:
Dear colleagues,
RT 's VEP 2025 is now closed. I can confirm that we receiv...
23/05/2025
Featuring guest writers Edel Coffey, Mike McCormack, Sin ad Moriarty, Dave Rudde...
22/05/2025
In line with the published New Direction strategy, RT has launched a commissioning process that will see all Christian Worship content on RT 's video platf...
22/05/2025
Prime Time speaks to Charleen Murphy, an influencer whose online harassment turned into a real-world attack
Tonight, Prime Time hosts a special programme focus...
22/05/2025
RT 's Today show, in conjunction with Ireland's oldest publishing house Mercier Press, have announced Ireland's newest published author. Rebecca M...
21/05/2025
RT is pleased to announce the appointment of Eleanor O'Shaughnessy as Chief Risk and Compliance Officer (CRCO), following a public competition. Eleanor bri...
19/05/2025
RT is today publishing a statistical summary from the Register of External Activities for the fourth quarter of 2024.
The RT Register of External Activities ...
18/05/2025
Ballyduff Drama Group from Co. Waterford Scoops Top Award in 2025 RT All-Irelan...
16/05/2025
Live RT Radio 1 shows with Louise Duffy, Countrywide and Mooney Goes Wild
RT ...
15/05/2025
The Football Association of Ireland and RT have today announced a new two-year ...
12/05/2025
What is success? How is it achieved? And what does it really cost? These are the...
09/05/2025
Further to the comments from RT Director-General, Kevin Bakhurst on Wednesday 7th May included below in which he asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel...
09/05/2025
Here is your host, Patrick Kielty!
In the season finale of The Late Late Show, ...
09/05/2025
My Eurovision Party 2025 - join in on the fun with RT Kids!
Eurovision launche...
08/05/2025
The Liveline is now open , said Joe Duffy earlier today, as he previewed this af...