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A NEWLY-engaged couple have found the “ideal” starter house on Virgin Media’s Help Me Buy A Home

Buyers agent Liz O’Kane was back for a second season of Help Me Buy a Home tonight to unpack the unfiltered realities Irish people face in the search for a home.

Virgin Media

Avril and Barry wanted to spread their wings and move out of the family home[/caption]

Virgin Media

JP and Tom were Dublin cash buyers looking for a country lifestyle[/caption]

Virgin Media

Liz O’Kane was determined to help both couples find their ideal home[/caption]

Liz lends her experience to overwhelmed and frustrated house-hunters and her mission is to get people out of endless viewings and drive them toward that elusive goal of home-ownership. 

First up tonight Liz tried to help Westport couple, Avril and Barry.

Avril’s dad passed away seven years ago, which led her mum to give up the running of the family-owned pub.

Two years ago she met her now partner Barry and ever since they have been living above the pub.

The pair wanted to find a three-bedroom bungalow in Westport so they could have their own space to raise a family.

For their search the happy couple had a budget of €290,000, made up of €80,000 in savings and were mortgage approved for €220,000.

They held back €10,000 for stamp duty and possible taxes.

Liz explained that the couple’s hope of a turn-key condition home wasn’t entirely possible within their price-range.

It was more likely they could get a starter home and eventually “sell-up” to their forever home

For their first home, Liz brought the couple just 6km from the town centre to a cute three-bedroom cottage with an asking price of €280,000.

However, they didn’t appear to be totally sold on the home, so Liz brought them to another property in an attempt to meet more of the couple’s criteria.

Next, they were brought to a charming three-bedroom home a bit further afield with an asking price under the couple’s budget of €240,000.

Despite the home coming in well under their budget, the happy couple didn’t seem taken by the property, as Liz exclaimed: “I can’t tell what’s going on with you at all behind those glasses. I can’t tell at all.”

Taking off his shades, Barry admitted: “I’m keeping to myself.”

While Avril said the price and location were “food for thought”.

Soon the reason behind the couple’s hesitations became clear as they contacted Liz telling her about a property they had fallen in love with.

WESTPORT HAVEN

The home, just outside Westport, had been previously viewed by the couple, but they were outbid at the time.

In a twist of fate, that home’s sale fell through putting it back on the market for €260,000.

Liz was adamant the couple should put in the full offer, but Barry wanted to go in lower with €250,000 – leaving Liz less than impressed.

Catching up with the couple at the end of the show, Liz was overjoyed to discover Barry’s prudent nature had paid off as they secured the three-bedroom bungalow for €257,000.

In the time since filming, they also got engaged, with Barry getting down on one knee.

CASH RICH

Elsewhere on the show, viewers met Dublin-based couple JP and Tom, who were selling their mortgage-free apartment in the capital, in place of a country lifestyle.

Together, the couple hoped to sell their apartment for over €800,000 in order to find enough acreage to start an alpaca and chicken farm.

For their first property, Liz brought them to a 6-acre four-bedroom home in Meath, just a forty-minute drive from the capital.

The pair liked aspects of the home, including its tennis court and size, but ultimately felt that it would be too costly for them to renovate.

WICKLOW WILDERNESS

Next, she brought them to a 20-year-old four-bedroom bungalow in Avoca, County Wicklow.

The breathtaking property was situated on ten acres of land in the Wicklow wilderness – the unfinished home didn’t spark much imagination with the couple.

And it didn’t seem much more attractive when Liz revealed its €780,000 price tag.

Finally, Liz brought them to a 3,000-square-foot, five-bedroom home just outside Mullingar in County Westmeath.

The couple were blown away by the “ideal” 9 acre home, complete with a forrest and perfect space for JP’s yoga studio.

However they were almost instantly put off by the €950,000 asking price.

In the end, the couple settled on the “magical” home in Avoca that needed some work, but it had everything the couple wanted.

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WOKE uni chiefs have slapped a trigger warning on one of the world’s best known paintings — because it features nudity.

Botticelli’s Birth of Venus — which shows the naked goddess emerging from the sea — is among classical paintings which have been flagged.

Getty

Botticelli’s Birth of Venus — which shows the naked goddess emerging from the sea — has been flagged by woke university bosses for featuring nudity[/caption]

Art students at The University of Roehampton, Surrey, are warned they may encounter “some images of nudity” on the course.

Monty Python star Terry Gilliam — who famously reinvented the painting as a cartoon — branded it “utter pathetic bs”.

Michael Daley, of campaign group Artwatch UK, added: “What student might not expect nude figures in Western classical art?”

Earlier in the month, a University slapped more than 200 trigger warnings on William Shakespeare’s works — including for storms and popping balloons.

The University of the West of England also advised drama students that TV adaptions of Macbeth referenced “psychological distress” and “war”.

The so-called Scottish play about a murderous king was even hit with a notice that it contained “family trauma”.

In all, 220 were added to his works and multiple adaptations including versions from respected theatres, the BBC and ITV.

The Winter’s Tale was said to contain “accusations of adultery” and “references to wild animal attack” — as nobleman Antigonus is eaten by a bear.

Romeo and Juliet, which ends with the lovers killing themselves, was said to contain references to “suicide”, “distress” and “mourning”.

The Tempest, about shipwrecked nobles, carries alerts for “storms”, “extreme weather”, “drunkenness” and “witchcraft”.

A recommended 2016 stage adaptation was flagged because it featured the “popping of balloons”.

Free Speech Union leader Toby Young raged: “If I was a University of the West of England drama student, I’d be furious about being treated like such a snowflake.”

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

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LOVE Island’s Harriett has reunited with Luca and Grace f.or a ‘family walk’ but Ronnie was absent following feud claims

Harriett Blackmore and Ronnie Vint recently rekindled their romance on ITV2 spin-off series Love Island: All Stars when they decided to give things another go after splitting up in the autumn of 2024.

Instagram

Harriett Blackmore reunited with Luca Bish, Grace Jackson and Luca’s sister Claudia – but Ronnie Vint was nowhere to be seen[/caption]

Instagram

Grace Jackson and Luca Bish finally headed out on a date in the UK[/caption]

Instagram

Ronnie and Harriett seem to be going strong since leaving the villa[/caption]

Narrowly missing out on making it to the final, the couple were axed just mere days before Casey O’Gorman and Gabby Allen won the show after going up against Luca Bish and Grace Jackson.

And now Harriett has reunited with Luca and Grace after her boyfriend Ronnie previously hinted at a feud between him and Luca.

Taking to her Instagram stories, Harriett shared a snap of several coffee cups held by different hands.

Tagging Luca, Grace and Luca’s sister Claudia, Harriett captioned the post: “First family walk”.

Ronnie was noticeably absent from the snap, which sparked concern that a feud that was hinted at the in the villa is still going strong.

The semi-pro footballer confessed he didn’t want to know Luca, 25, on the outside while he was in the All Stars villa earlier this year.

Ronnie opened up in a telling conversation with Casey, saying he had “enemies who were nicer than Luca”.

Luca, from Brighton, is childhood friends with Ronnie’s partner Harriett.

But the former fishmonger failed to back his pal when she got into a shouting match with Casey during the challenge To Be Honest.

Reacting to Ronnie’s surprise confession on X, one viewer said: “Ronnie having a beef with Luca is so one sided… Luca has no idea there is even any beef.”

This comes after Harriett shared a sweet snap of a romantic gesture Ronnie made amid claims they could be heading for splitsville.

Taking to her Instagram stories to share a snap of a huge bouquet of flowers, Harriett revealed the sweet gift her lover had bought her.

“What a special surprise,” Harriett penned alongside the sweet snap of the romantic gesture.

When the All Stars final aired last weekend, fans were sure that they spotted signs that Harriett and Ronnie could be on the rocks.

Taking to Reddit this fan wrote: “Harriett looks so upset [during the All Stars final] and I think it’s because she’d made a deal with herself to get back with Ronnie just to win because she was SO adamant she wasn’t coming in for that and I think now she’s thinking ‘it was all for nothing.’

“I expect a split soon because she wouldn’t close herself off for ages.

“[She] was still saying she’d entertain new people AFTER he said he loved her, and it was always Ronnie saying ‘oh well we got each other, I come in and got what I wanted’.

“But Harriett never said the same…..”

Rex

Grace and Luca were runners up on this year’s All Stars[/caption]

ITV

Harriett and Ronnie narrowly missed out on making it to the final[/caption]

Splash

The couple were originally coupled up last summer before splitting and rekindling their romance earlier this year on All Stars[/caption]

If Spencer finally returns to the Dutton ranch in 1923 Season 2, he’s gonna have a lot of work to do.