RTÉ show hosting 'trades day' next week for work on firefighter's home
The producers of an RTÉ television show which is organising the renovation of an injured Athlone firefighter's home will be recruiting volunteers for the project at a 'trades day' in the town next week.
DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland is planning to help renovate the home of Patrick (Pa) Berry, the Athlone firefighter and father of three who was almost killed when a wall collapsed on him at a house fire last October.
On Tuesday next, February 8, a trades day is taking place in St Kieran's Community Centre where tradespeople are being asked to come forward and help out with the renovation work at the Assumption Road home of Pa, his partner Nicky, and their children Kai, Rainah and Nova.
The DIY SOS show is presented by Baz Ashmawy. Its first day of filming for the Athlone episode took place last week, but the building work at the Berrys' home won't be getting underway until March 1.
Encouraging people to come along to the trades day next week, Ciara Bresnihan, a senior producer of the show, said: "We're specifically looking for fencers, skip companies, groundworks companies, brickies, painting companies, lawn turf, windows, joinery companies and general volunteers."
The event will start at 11.30am, which is when groundworkers, blocklayers, landscapers, fencers, and lawn turf suppliers are being asked to attend.
At 12.30pm, carpenters, joinery companies, plumbers, electricians and window suppliers are asked to come along.
And finally, at 2.30pm, painters, plasterers, slabbers and interior decorators are invited.
"If anyone outside of those categories want to show up for any other reason, then all are welcome at any time to come chat to the build, design and production teams," said Ciara.
A firefighter for the last five years, Pa Berry suffered multiple broken bones, lacerations to his neck and tongue and swelling on the brain while he was attending the scene of a house fire in Mount Temple in mid-October.
He told the Westmeath Independent that he felt lucky to have survived the accident, and the work to renovate his family home is designed to help assist with his long journey toward a full recovery.