In pictures: 'Like being in a dream' - Donegal Victorian-style house featured on RTÉ

A Donegal couple's incredible home was displayed to the nation on RTÉ's Home of the Year. Please click on the arrows to go through the gallery

Buncrana’s Josephine and Paul Dunleavy, who is from Dungloe, purchased a property in Manorcunningham in 2022. 

Having lived in Derry for 25 years, the couple wanted to return to Donegal. From there, they spent over three years working tirelessly to restore the Victorian property, salvaging and restoring antiques to remain authentic. 

Having just sold their previous house, the couple thought they might be ready to downsize but fell in love with this beautiful manse.

They spent over three years working day and night restoring the Victorian property, built in 1870, to its former glory. The interiors feature a classic design which has been decorated with carefully selected pieces of period-appropriate furniture, which the couple have often salvaged and reupholstered so they could remain true to the home’s Victorian roots. For Paul and Josephine, antiques are one of their biggest passions, so to be able to curate a home like this is a dream come true for them.

Each week, the judges visited three exceptional homes and score them out of 10 based on individuality, functionality, and clever design. The home with the highest combined score in each episode will advance to the grand final in April, where one lucky homeowner will be crowned the winner of the series.

"I hope the judges respect what we've done," Paul said beforehand.

The judges were architect Amanda Bone, interior designer Siobhán Lam, and the late architect Hugh Wallace, who was hugely enthusiastic.

"It's like stepping back in time and I just love it," he said. "I'm in heaven. It's like being in a dream. I just love it here. What's not to love? This house is the highest accolade of pushing the boat out with personality and creativity."

"For me, the overriding feeling is fun and it makes me real exicted," Anna Bone added. "This is gorgeous," Siobhán Lam said. 

Paul and Josephine scored 10 from Hugh, seven from Siobhan and got a six from Anna -"Outrageous," Hugh said - to accumulate a combined total of 23. The show's other contestants, Grace and Robert from Dublin, scored 26 and Vivienne and Enda, Kilkenny, picked up 24.