Monaghan GAA star Dessie Ward and his wife Clodagh took on the daunting challenge of converting a derelict barn into a stunning forever home.
For a lot of people, buying a first home can feel somewhere between a distant dream and a full-time panic attack.
Between soaring costs, endless paperwork and the terrifying phrase ‘proof of savings,’ it’s easy to assume homeownership is only for people who understand spreadsheets or have an uncle who builds mansions for fun.
But according to Monaghan footballer Dessie Ward, getting on the property ladder is possible - especially when you stop trying to do it all alone.
Speaking on Brendan Courtney’s My First Home, Dessie shared the story of how he and his wife, Clodagh, transformed a derelict family barn into a stunning forever home, all while juggling a pretty full-on schedule.
Reflecting on the last year, Dessie said, "2025 was one of the most stressful periods of my life. We were building a house, planning a wedding and running businesses all at once- but looking back now, it was absolutely worth it."
Casual!
Their story is exactly the kind of encouragement nervous first-time buyers need right now.
Not because it was effortless; Dessie openly admits it was one of the most stressful periods of his life.
But it shows what can happen when good advice, determination and the right support come together.
The couple used the Vacant and Derelict Property Grant, along with SEAI supports, to help finance the renovation of a property that had been in Dessie’s family for generations.
What was once home to sheep, straw bales and assorted farm chaos is now a beautiful modern space filled with light, character and a very fancy mezzanine.
Of course, like every renovation story worth telling, there were moments of absolute mayhem.
Planning permission delays. Budget shocks. Builders arriving late. Kitchens costing roughly the same as a small island nation.
But underneath all the stress was something really important: a plan. And that’s where AIB mortgage advisors quietly became the hero of the story.
Dessie explained that as a self-employed business owner, securing finance initially felt intimidating.
He said, "Being self-employed definitely brought challenges when it came to getting finance. There’s always that fear that it’s going to be harder to secure a mortgage, but having the right guidance and support made the whole process feel far more achievable."
Working with an AIB mortgage advisor helped to break the process down into manageable steps instead of one giant overwhelming mountain.
That’s the thing most people don’t realise about buying a home: you do not need to have every answer before you begin.
You just need to start the conversation.
For anyone convinced they’re "not ready yet," this story is proof that there are often more options available than people think.
Grants. Renovation schemes. Mortgage supports. Financial planning advice. There are pathways to homeownership that many buyers simply don’t know exist until they sit down with someone who can guide them through it properly.
And while Dessie jokes that he’d never rush into another renovation anytime soon, there’s no denying the pride in what they created.
Their home isn’t just somewhere to live, it’s a place built from family history, hard work and smart decisions.
For more expert advice and tales from the trenches of first-time buying, tune into new episodes of Brendan Courtney's My First Home on all podcast platforms
For more information or to speak to a mortgage advisor, checkout aib.ie.
