For Eoghan, embarking on a self-build with his wife and son on the family farm where he grew up in County Kildare holds deep meaning, and sees him realise a further ambition to create a sustainable home in ICF.
I’m Eoghan, and along with my wife Jenny and our son Jack, we’re building our dream home on my family’s farm in County Kildare, Ireland. This has been a long time coming, especially after renovating my grandfather’s cottage four years ago, thinking we’d only be there for two years. However, the planning process turned out to be a far bigger challenge than we ever expected, with two refusals and a final third application that felt like our last shot.
While I’ve always dreamed of living in the countryside, Jenny grew up in a town and loves the vibrant life it offers. But she’s excited about the benefits of designing a home that perfectly meets our family’s needs and wants, even if the journey has been filled with unexpected delays and challenges.
One of the biggest decisions we made was to build using Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF). When I first came across ICF, I was amazed by the concept, and the more I researched it, the more confident I became that it was the right choice for us. ICF construction offers incredible insulation, energy efficiency, and durability – perfect for the unpredictable Irish weather. It also allows us to create a highly airtight and sustainable home, which aligns with our long-term goals for comfort and lower energy costs.
We finally broke ground at the end of August 2023, a moment that felt surreal after all the hurdles we’d faced just to get to that point. There was a mixture of excitement and relief as we watched the diggers start work on what would become our family home. Fast forward to today, and we’re deep into the second fix stage, focusing on the final finishes inside. It’s incredible to see the house taking shape, especially now that we can really visualise each room and how the natural light fills the space.
One of the most exciting milestones was getting the windows and doors installed and finally having the house fully sealed. It marked a significant step forward, not just in terms of progress but also in making the house feel like a real home. Another milestone was when the stud walls were skimmed. That was the first time we could truly experience the flow and feel of each room, which brought a new level of excitement and anticipation for what’s to come.
However, the journey hasn’t been without its challenges. One unexpected issue was with the window sills. They caused a lot of delays because we struggled to find someone skilled enough to install them correctly. I’d seen other ICF self-builders face problems with water seeping into the concrete core due to poor installation of the damp proof course (DPC) when fitting the sills, so we were determined to avoid the same pitfalls. Unfortunately, this held up getting our windows ordered and delayed sealing the house, which in turn pushed back our first fix plumbing and electrical work.
As we push to finish the house, decisions are coming thick and fast. While no small issues have caused major delays, the sheer volume of choices we need to make in a short time has kept us on our toes. Despite these challenges, we’re steadily moving towards completion, and the dream of finally living in our custom-built home is becoming more tangible every day.
Throughout this journey, both our parents have been incredible sources of support. My parents live right beside us, and Jenny’s are only 15 minutes away, which has been a real blessing. Whether it’s watching our son Jack so we can focus on the build or helping out in countless other ways, their support has been invaluable.
We’ve also been fortunate to work with some great tradespeople along the way. Every professional we’ve engaged with has been reliable and skilled, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend any
of them.
Building this home on my family’s farm has been a deeply meaningful experience. The lane we’re building on has a close-knit community, and I think Jenny has really come to appreciate how kind and wonderful our neighbours are. I grew up loving life here, and I’m confident that our son Jack will enjoy it just as much. This build isn’t just about creating a house; it’s about creating a life in a place that already holds so many cherished memories. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for our family here.
If you’d like to follow the rest of our journey or look back at what we’ve achieved so far, follow us on Instagram at @silveracrehouse