Show Notes
This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by Shay Lally from Houses to Restore — the man behind some of the most impressive renovation projects happening in Ireland right now.
Shay takes us inside the wide mix of work he’s managing at the moment: full home renovations, sensory rooms in schools, church restoration projects — including Dolphin’s Barn Church — and multiple house transformations all running at once. But long before building one of Ireland’s fastest-growing renovation platforms, Shay’s world looked very different.
After finishing his Leaving Cert, he took a gap year playing percussion with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, performing regularly before heading to college to study Quantity Surveying.
We dive into what it really takes to be a QS — understanding materials, pricing and budgets, negotiating with suppliers, managing trades, and keeping projects on track when emotions (and costs) start to rise. Shay also breaks down the reality of pricing renovation work and why renovating your own home is never just a financial decision — it’s an emotional one.
Alongside all of this, Shay runs the Mobile Music School, bringing music workshops to schools across the country — a full-circle nod to the musical roots that started it all. Today, Houses to Restore has grown into a community of over 75,000 Instagram followers, all tuning in for the transformations, the craftsmanship and the behind-the-scenes chaos and creativity that come with every project.
If you’re interested in renovating, building, design or unconventional career paths — this episode is for you.
This episode is proudly sponsored by:
Top Drawer Talent — Supply Chain & Procurement Specialists, helping businesses hire top-tier talent across Ireland and internationally. https://www.tdtalent.ie/
Nesta Storage — secure, flexible storage solutions for businesses and individuals, offering modern facilities, short- and long-term options, and peace of mind when space matters. https://nesta.ie/business-storage/
Get 25% off your first month’s storage using the code CS25
HERE WE GO.
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