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
20/10/2025
RT 's Prime Time is set to host the final Presidential Election Debate this Tuesday night, October 21, providing an opportunity to hear directly from Irelan...
17/10/2025
Here is your host, Patrick Kielty!
After an incredible breakthrough year, Kingf...
16/10/2025
This Saturday October 18 Katja Mia will burst onto the radio airwaves for the first time as she joins 2FM. Katja will be standing in for Bl thnaid Treacy on Sat...
16/10/2025
This October, RT is delighted to support Wexford Festival Opera, Babor International Arts Festival for Children, Open House Dublin and 36 other arts and cultu...
15/10/2025
Series coming in 2026 stars Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Justine Mitchell and Jason O'Mara released today
RT today released first look images of new comedy-drama ...
14/10/2025
Imelda May explores her relationship with the Irish language through songs and sean-n s singing
Friday 17 October, 8.30pm on RT One and RT Player
Watch tr...
13/10/2025
Season 2 brings murder and West of Ireland humour - and rain - to our screens, with M ir ad Tyers joining the cast
Watch trailer here.
A small-town obituary w...
13/10/2025
The Katie Hannon Interview Live airs tonight & Wednesday night at 7pm
As part of RT 's comprehensive election campaign coverage, journalist Katie Hannon w...
10/10/2025
Today with David McCullagh to begin at 9am
Oliver Callan to move to 11am
Kieran Cuddihy to present Liveline
Louise Duffy moves to mid-afternoon
Katie Hannon...
10/10/2025
Tipperary, Cork and Dublin Championships to feature in first three weeks
Three weeks of top-class club hurling begins RT 's 2025 Club Championship coverage...
09/10/2025
After over 11 years on RT Radio 1, The Ray D'Arcy Show is set to come to an end this week Ray presented his show for the final time yesterday.
During it...
09/10/2025
RT today announced that Gavin Maloney has been reappointed as Associate Princip...
08/10/2025
Gr inne McAleer has been appointed as Acquistions Editor, RT following an internal competition.
As Acquistions Editor, Gr inne will report to and support the ...
08/10/2025
Brand New Podcast Series tells the extraordinary story of a couple jailed in Ire...
07/10/2025
RT SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2025...
03/10/2025
From today 2FM presenters Demi Isaac and Mikey O' Reilly will be unleashed on the airwaves five days a week. The dynamic duo will stand in for Doireann Garr...
03/10/2025
Heart-warming series features families from Dublin, Wicklow, Kilkenny and Clare
The series that rebuilds people's lives by rebuilding their homes returns t...
03/10/2025
RT will provide comprehensive coverage and analysis of Budget 2026 across online, radio and television on Tuesday 7 October with extensive reporting and reacti...
02/10/2025
At a time when world events can feel dark and overwhelming, The Lyric Feature on...
02/10/2025
Priscilla Presley and John C. Reilly join The Late Late Show Country Music Special to celebrate 10 years
Priscilla Presley | John C. Reilly | Daniel O'Donn...
02/10/2025
Key Presidential Debates to help voters decide
First Debate this Sunday 5 October on RT One & RT Player
Over the course of the 2025 Presidential election ...
01/10/2025
RT has today revealed a new Head Judge and presenter line-up for the ninth series of the hit show Dancing with the Stars.
The new Head Judge on the dancefloor...
26/09/2025
After four suspense-filled weeks, 24 fascinating players and 12 nail-biting episodes, The Traitors Ireland came to a dramatic conclusion this week and audiences...
26/09/2025
Former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon will join Patrick for a wide-r...
25/09/2025
RT 's This is Art!' creative kids art competition launches with nature ...
24/09/2025
Seisi n returns to RT One and RT Player from Friday 26 September at 8pm with f...
24/09/2025
Broadcasters Mary Wilson and ine Lawlor will sign off on Morning Ireland on RT Radio 1 for the final time this morning. Today marks Mary Wilson's official...
24/09/2025
RT Investigates reveals factories supplying clothing to major Irish retailers h...
22/09/2025
It's back! To mark the return of the 14th season of the TODAY Show, Ireland's most successful and longest-running afternoon show, RT releases new prese...
22/09/2025
New RT Investigates documentary reveals cotton produced by forced labour camps ...
22/09/2025
Special programmes across RT television, radio and online, plus special initiatives
#ISL #IDSL #IWDP25
RT is proud to once again support Irish Sign Langua...
19/09/2025
RT SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2025: SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED
WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED AS PART OF AN RT RADIO 1 ARENA SPECIAL ON FRIDAY 24TH OCTOBER
LIVE FROM THE PA...
18/09/2025
Individual phones could be tracked back to specific residential addresses
Sm...
17/09/2025
Auditions will be held in Dublin, Cork and Galway
The County Parade returns f...
12/09/2025
The Late Late Show is back with a bang after the summer break, and Patrick Kielt...
12/09/2025
The World Athletics Championships, Ireland v France in the Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final, the Irish Champions Festival, and two Sports Direct Men...
12/09/2025
The Records Show starts Sunday at 6.30pm on RT One and RT Player.
Katie Hanno...
11/09/2025
Tonight on Prime Time
RT One and RT Player at 9:35pm
Tonight RT Prime Time...
11/09/2025
RT Statement: 2026 Eurovision Song Contest
At the General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in July, a number of EBU members raised concerns ...
10/09/2025
RT brings three days of live radio, live entertainment, live news, live weather, personal appearances, and more
Join RT Radio 1: Morning Ireland, The Oliver ...
09/09/2025
The Autumn Schedule has begun on RT Raidi na Gaeltachta, with a feast of music, entertainment, news and current affairs programmes as well as an interesting s...
05/09/2025
This weekend sees another feast in store for all sport fans as RT airs a jam-packed schedule of live, free-to-air sport.
The Amgen Irish Open continues all we...
04/09/2025
CELEBRATE CULTURE NIGHT ON RT
A rich schedule of live music and performances across RT services
RT will again celebrate Culture Night on Friday 19th Sept...
04/09/2025
RT shares first look images of drama series The Walsh Sisters, based on the novels by Marian Keyes
Coming to RT One and RT Player from Sunday 28 September,...
03/09/2025
My Story: Georgie - Cow Queen airs on RT 2 this Wednesday, September 3 at 4pm.
...
02/09/2025
This September, RT is delighted to support Culture Night, Dublin Theatre Festival, Limerick Jazz Festival, Dublin Fringe Festival and 17 other amazing arts and...
02/09/2025
RT and Virgin Media Television have today (Tuesday 2 September 2025) announced ...
01/09/2025
24 players have entered Slane Castle ready to outwit, outplay and outlast in the ultimate game of trust and deception.
The Traitors Ireland has commenced.
Her...
01/09/2025
First time television presenter Cathal Dowd, aged 23, from Wexford is the newest addition to the news2day team. news2day is RT 's news service designed spec...
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.
