IRISH ASSET MANAGER Eoghan O’Riain worked all over the world before deciding to make his native Donegal his home. He invited architect Hugh Wallace and The Great House Revival team to join him on his renovation journey. He tells Ruth O’Connor about the importance of moving back to a place so close to his, and his family’s, hearts.

The house on Seaview Terrace is a testament to the homeowner's commitment to Rathmullan where he spent all his summers as a child. Andy Smyth. Andy Smyth.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m from Letterkenny, outside Rathmullan. I worked overseas for years and each time I came back to Ireland I found myself in Rathmullan, meeting friends and spending time on the beach. I always loved the place but I never really thought I’d ever get the opportunity to move there as my work was usually based in major cities and corporate districts around the world. When I returned to Ireland, I lived in Dublin for about five years, and again never thought I’d get to move back to Donegal, but an opportunity arose whereby I could be based in Rathmullan so I jumped at it.

What changes have taken place in your industry or what developments in rural infrastructure have allowed you to work in Rathmullan as readily as any leading city in the world? 

Everything has become more connected – particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic. I work with teams based in London, Sydney and Dallas, and do it all while in Rathmullan. We have a great office in Letterkenny too and I’m fortunate to work in an amazing company with incredible people. My work is throughout Europe and Australia, so travel is a feature, but I would be doing that anyway whether I was living in London, Dublin or Rathmullan. 

The elegant terraced Victorian house has a long history when it comes to the emigration of its tenants over the years but Eoghan has bucked that trend. Andy Smyth. Andy Smyth.

Were you always familiar with this property before you bought it and what were the major selling points of the property for you?

When I returned to Donegal I based myself in Rathmullan. At that time I was getting to know the locals in the village and I let one man in particular know that I was interested in buying a place. He kept an eye out for me and showed me a few places which he thought could come up for sale. Then one day he took me to Seaview Terrace, and he had an inkling that the lady who owned it would sell, but he didn’t know her and it hadn’t been lived in for several years. I knew straight away that this house was the one, and that set in motion nearly a year of searching for the owner. We eventually found the lady when she returned to Rathmullan to sell the house. Lucky me!

The tiny kitchen once operated as a guest house kitchen but it has now been replaced by a stunning open plan kitchen and living space. Andy Smyth. Andy Smyth.

Was it important for you to purchase and renovate an old home rather than buying a new build? 

I lived in a new build when I was in Dublin. I don’t have anything particularly negative to say about new homes – more positive if anything – but personally I love the architecture and character of older Victorian-style houses. As a result, the dream was always to renovate an old house if possible. My granny had a house very similar to this one which I visited throughout my childhood and I have great memories of that -  I love the space, the height and features that came with that style. It would be cool if she was still around to see my house now. I think she would approve.

Why did you decide to go on The Great House Revival show and how did you find the whole experience?

I love property shows – anything with building, old houses and renovation. I didn’t really think that the production company would be interested in filming my house. It’s not like an estate or a big country house or something like that so I didn’t think they’d be too keen. But when the producers told me they’d like to film the renovation I thought ‘Why not?’. I’m also terrible at keeping track of progress with photos, videos etc., so thought it would be a great opportunity to document the whole process.

Hugh encouraged Eoghan to unleash his 'inner artist' pushing him to inject the house with more colour than he had originally planned. Andy Smyth. Andy Smyth.

What has been the most rewarding and most challenging part of your renovation journey?

The most rewarding part of my renovation was seeing all the tradesmen come to visit the house when it was finished. There were so many challenges – the ground wasn’t great and required very specific foundations, the blockwork had to be tied into old stone walls, the roof had an irregular pitch and required a combination of materials, no wall was straight and no floor was even. So each person with their own trade had their own challenges and problems to overcome. Each trade came, did their thing and walked away; but I really enjoyed it when they came back to see it finished and to see what they accomplished.

The most challenging aspect was balancing work and life in general along with the build, keeping on top of the orders, and the next trade coming through. 

The new kitchen and living area is a welcome space housing a beautiful collection of items the homeowner has collected over the years on his travels and while living and working abroad. Andy Smyth. Andy Smyth.

 How would you describe your style/ aesthetic when it comes to interiors?

 I love the detail, history and character that comes with antiques and old architecture but I also love the sleekness that comes with modern design – so I leaned into both. I incorporated antiques, a classic kitchen and old features together with sharp angles and clean lines to give the extension a modern architectural design. I have parquet flooring throughout the extension along with modern furniture and finishings within the older section of the house to combine both styles. I’m not sure what you’d call that, it’s a bit of a contradiction.

What makes you happiest about your new home?

I hired a stone mason, Danny McBride, to build a stone wall around the perimeter of my garden and to integrate it with an existing stone wall that was already there. The stones came from the Pier Hotel that used to be in Rathmullan but unfortunately burned down a few years ago. The stones were all irregular, different shapes and sizes. I’d watch Danny as he methodically put the wall together, finding the right size, shape and orientation for each stone and boulder in order to bring the wall together. I love that something as simple as a wall can carry so much history and display such a level of craftsmanship. He’s created a piece of sculpture in my back garden.

Once bathed in magnolia tones, the Rathmullan home is now filled with colours that echo the mountain and sea views over Lough Swilly. Andy Smyth. Andy Smyth.

What is now your favourite room in your home?

I love every room. But I spend a lot of time in my office, and am very fortunate that the sea is directly outside my window. I also spend a lot of time in the living area, and designed it to be comfortable for relaxing and having friends over.

Where do you go for inspiration when it comes to home decor?

I’ve always enjoyed visiting historic buildings – my main inspiration comes from looking at other houses of a similar era to my own.

Eoghan and his family and friends can now gather in the new extension and back yard to socialise. Andy Smyth. Andy Smyth.

Are you a magpie or a minimalist? 

I would say I’m a magpie, I like collecting things from different cultures. I managed to get a cabinet from an old drawing office in the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast which houses most of the bits and pieces I collect.

What has been your best bargain or biggest splurge?

My biggest bargain is my kitchen table. I found it in a furniture shop in Letterkenny and it had been damaged and in storage for years. I got a good deal on it and we managed to bring it back to life. My biggest splurge is the stained glass window in the front porch. It was created by an artist in Portadown.

The carefully considered interior of the new extension and the existing house is a far cry from what was there when Eoghan purchased the house. Andy Smyth. Andy Smyth.

What is your most treasured possession? 

 My vintage Martin guitar. It was made in 1942 and is hanging up in the front room. It was my first big spend when I had very little money.

What tips would you give to other people considering a similar renovation this year?

Monitor the budget and feed the builders.

Eoghan O’Riain and his dog Charlie now have a beautiful seaside home with original features as well as new additions including the stunning stained glass panels by stained glass artist Michael Guy of Portadown Stained Glass. Andy Smyth. Andy Smyth.

The Great House Revival continues on Sunday at 9.30pm on RTÉ One and on RTÉ Player where you can also catch up on previous episodes. www.rte.ie.