Dermot Bannon: 'We need to entice people back into our towns and cities'

And not just because Munster and Ireland rugby legend Paul O’Connell put the presenter through his paces to test Dermot’s potential on the pitch — but also because the architect got to languish on the bench too to appreciate the church-like design of one of the city’s latest landmarks. 

That was after Paul gave him a personal tour of the International Rugby Experience museum. Noting how Limerick is regarded as “a city of spires”, the sports star quips, “This building could be described as a cathedral to rugby — and rugby is a religion for some people.”

Designed by Niall McLaughlin, this museum, which sits in the city’s Georgian quarter, also appeals to Dermot Bannon because it acts as a modern-day meeting place. “The narrative of a lot of our towns and cities is that they are struggling and I thought this was a really amazing thing to do,” the architect tells Irish Examiner Home.

“Previously the big public buildings in our urban spaces were churches and museums. They’re all quite niche now — not everyone will go into town to go to a church — so what about a rugby museum? The really clever thing is to build it like a church, so it becomes a real landmark.”

This building is the quintessential example of Dermot’s concept of a people hub, whether you’re a rugby fan or, as Paul O’Connell puts it, an “architectural nerd”. 

Dermot adds: “How do we entice people back into our towns and cities? It’s very difficult to find a purpose — but sport is one of those things.”

When setting out to create the two-parter, which airs RTÉ One on September 4 and September 11, design was key, whether it came to reimagining our towns and cities or our homes. “Ireland has loads of great projects,” says the architect.

“Over the next 10 years, there will be a massive reimagining as to why we use our towns and cities — because retail is on its knees.

“If people need to buy an item, they will often buy it online. Towns and cities are now about comedy clubs, restaurants, pubs, about rugby experiences and about meeting people.

“Look at how the Taylor Swift concerts sold so fast in Ireland. I don’t really believe every one of those people just wanted to go to the concerts. There’s a real need to meet and do things collectively.”

Dermot Bannon’s Super Spaces looks at those zones in which we live, work and socialise across the island of Ireland, from magnificent renovations to bijou container homes, and from converted outhouses to coffee huts.

In each episode, Dermot also talks to those whose lives have been positively affected by well-conceived civic spaces and travels to Westport to learn about its town planning. “This has happened in increments,” says Dermot. “The changes were slowly implemented over the last 20 years.”

One major regret of Dermot’s this year is having been unable to accept an invite to be a “plus one” at Cork’s annual Long Table, a flagship event for the Cork on a Fork food festival with diners tucking in on MacCurtain Street this August. 

A big long table down the middle of a street in Cork? I think that’s amazing.

“That’s what we need to be doing in our towns and cities as we are building and reimagining them," he says. 

It is all down to clever design, insists the architect. “A couple of car parking spaces a year will give people spaces outside shops to eat,” he says. “How can design help our houses, public spaces, and our towns and villages?”

You can do it the right way and the wrong way and there’s often no price difference.”

A personal favourite meeting point of Dermot’s revolves around a coffee truck, just around the corner from where he lives in Dublin. “There’s the route where people queue up and this lovely space in front of it — and it was all created completely by accident.

“It’s like St Mark’s Square in Venice — unknowingly, they created the perfect Italian square,” he says.

Spaces don’t need to have four walls and roof but they do need “to excite and inspire the imagination”, he adds.

Right in the very north of Ireland, Basalt House in Portrush, Co Antrim is one of the most breathtaking homes Dermot has ever visited.

In Co Kerry, the architect spends time with the owner of Limehouse Cottage, a renovated property set in the hills near Glenbeigh. He talks to sea swimmers at the Clontarf Baths, who use this facility not only to help their stamina but also their mental health.

Dermot will visit some stunning architecturally designed houses, including An Tui, a renovated cottage with a contemporary extension and thatch roof, the small but perfectly formed Charleville House on the North Strand, and the magnificent Vaulted House in Sandymount.

“[Previous RTÉ series] ‘Dermot Bannon’s Incredible Homes’ was defined by houses and I think with the likes of ‘Incredible Homes’ people associated it with the cost," says Dermot. 

People would say: ‘That’s all fine and well, him heading off — but how does it affect us?' 

“Get rid of the idea that these are expensive spaces. This show [‘Dermot Bannon’s Super Spaces’] is all about design. I’m hoping there’s lots to inspire people.”

•  Episode One of 'Dermot Bannon's Super Spaces' will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Wednesday, September 4, at 9.35pm. The second part will air at the same time on Wednesday, September 11