For Brendan Courtney, the commute to a filming location has become a space for a very specific kind of conversation. “Every time I’m driving to a shoot, I talk to him. Have a little chat,” Courtney says. “People think I’m crazy. I say to him, ‘make sure I’m doing this right, give me a sign!’”
The recipient of these conversations is the late Hugh Wallace, the renowned architect and television personality who died unexpectedly on December 1 last year. Wallace was in the midst of filming the sixth season of The Great House Revival when he passed. For Courtney, who is now completing the final episodes of the series, the dialogue with his late friend is both a personal ritual and a quest for professional validation.
The bond between the two was rooted in a shared, albeit inverted, career trajectory. Even as Wallace was a designer who transitioned into the public eye as a presenter, Courtney is a seasoned TV host who evolved into a designer. This intersection of perspectives often led to deep, spirited debates about aesthetics and functionality—conversations that Courtney continues, in his own way, today.
The suddenness of the loss remains a poignant memory. Just days before Wallace’s death, Courtney had spent an evening with the architect and his husband, Martin Corbett. As he drove home that Friday night, Courtney recalls a sudden, internal urge to prioritize those relationships: “I necessitate to spend more time with Hugh and Martin. I really love them. They’re just great people.” By the following Monday, Courtney found himself in the sobering position of announcing Wallace’s death on air as a stand-in host on Oliver Callan’s show, delivering a heartfelt tribute in a segment that lasted 18 minutes.
The Architecture of a Fearless Career
Courtney’s current foray into design is not a sudden pivot but a return to his roots. His father, Frank, was a builder, making the act of revamping and renovation a part of his familial DNA. This innate interest has manifested in three home renovations, most recently a project in Wicklow that was interrupted by a surreal disaster: a car crashed into the house shortly after he had moved in.
While the incident was jarring, Courtney viewed it with a pragmatic lens, noting that the primary relief was that everyone was safe and the damage was limited to bricks and mortar. The accident provided an unexpected opportunity to accelerate his plans, as he already had a builder booked for a rear extension. The builder suggested completing the entire renovation at once, allowing Courtney to step back and oversee the transformation of the space.
This confidence in self-design stems from a career defined by a lack of hesitation. In 1996, Courtney left a stable production assistant role on Riverdance to pursue television, a move some might have viewed as foolhardy. This boldness paid off in 1999 with the launch of Wanderlust, a hybrid of travel and online dating. Courtney not only conceived the format and pitched it to RTÉ as a package deal with himself as the host but eventually saw the format sold to 19 countries.
“One of the words I would use about myself, looking back on my career, is fearless because my parents were fearless,” he explains, describing a mindset where a few weeks of unemployment were not a deterrent, but a bridge to the next opportunity.
Designing for the Future and the Self
Beyond the screen, Courtney has used his platform to address systemic issues in Ireland, specifically housing and healthcare. His 2017 documentary, We Need To Talk About Dad, explored the complexities of full-time care after his father suffered a second stroke. The project served as a catalyst for a deeper relationship with his father in his final year and turned Courtney into an advocate for government support for home-based elderly care, noting that the current “fair deal” scheme is primarily geared toward nursing home care.
This experience with elder care informed his approach to his own living situation. After years in a city-center penthouse—which he purchased from Nama for €235,000 after a challenging negotiation with banks—he realized the urban high-rise was not a sustainable place to grow old. His new Wicklow home has been meticulously “future-proofed.”
The design reflects a conscious effort to avoid the hardships his parents faced due to a lack of planning. The home is entirely single-level, featuring double doors in the bedroom and walk-in showers throughout, ensuring it is fully wheelchair accessible. To further secure his future, Courtney has appointed one of his nephews as his enduring power of attorney.
Courtney’s design sensibilities have likewise extended into a commercial collaboration with EZ Living Interiors. The sustainable garden furniture range, crafted from acacia wood, was inspired by the blossoms of Japan. The collection is designed for versatility, working both indoors and outdoors, with waterproof cushions he describes as “Nancy-friendly,” in honor of his Jack Russell-pug-chihuahua, Nancy Drew.
A Season of Clarity and Simplicity
As he enters his 50s, Courtney is navigating a period of significant personal transition. In September 2024, he and his partner of a decade, Adam Maryniak, ended their relationship. The split, which Courtney describes as mature and full of love, was an agreement between both parties. Despite the breakup, the two remain best friends, with Maryniak continuing to help care for the family dog.
Courtney has consciously chosen a period of solitude, stating that he is not currently dating. He has dedicated a year to “clarity” and “learning to love myself,” prioritizing inner peace over external achievements. This philosophy of simplicity extends to his latest venture, a property podcast titled My First Home, which has reached No. 1 on the leisure charts. The podcast focuses on providing stories of hope and practical expert tips for first-time buyers attempting to enter the housing market.
When reflecting on his ambitions, Courtney moves away from the traditional markers of success. He describes his primary goal as maintaining a state of kindness, honesty, and openness, suggesting that the most fulfilling aspects of life are the simplest: swimming in the sea, walking his dog, and sharing kindness in a world that often feels dark.
With the painters currently finishing the operate in his Wicklow residence, Courtney is preparing for his imminent return to the home he designed himself—a space built not just for the present, but for the long term.
If you have experienced the challenges of arranging elderly care or navigating the first-time buyer’s market in Ireland, we invite you to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
