Offaly family ' who urgently need more space' on RTE's DIY SOS this evening
The Harte family from Walsh Island urgently need more space - space to regulate, to decompress, to feel safe - and, most importantly, space to support son Noah as he grows into adulthood
The Harte family live in Coolagary in Walsh Island. Damien, a proud Offaly native, and Hazel, a Dublin “blow-in", are raising three wonderful children - each with their own unique personality and varying levels of autism.
The family features on the popular television series DIY SOS on RTE 1 this evening, Sunday, October 25, at 6.30pm.
Ollie, the eldest, is the family chatterbox, delighting everyone with fascinating facts about his favourite subjects. Meadow, the youngest, was only recently diagnosed and approaches life with confidence and charm.
Noah is six. Alongside his autism diagnosis, he has Global Developmental Delay and an intellectual disability. He is non-verbal and experiences significant emotional dysregulation, with daily meltdowns that can be deeply distressing for him and those around him. During these episodes, Noah screams in a high-pitched tone and often covers his own ears in anguish. Meadow instinctively covers hers too, and Ollie finds these moments particularly upsetting.
Sleep is a constant struggle for Noah, and he is currently on a mood stabilising medication. It was never a path his parents wanted to take, but when Noah began self harming, they had no choice. On several occasions, they have had to bring him to A&E to ensure he had not fractured or broken bones.
Noah has no awareness of danger. He does not respond to his name and is at constant risk of running off without warning. For his safety, he relies on a buggy during outings - a solution that is becoming increasingly unsustainable as he grows taller and stronger.
Following professional guidance from Noah’s psychologist, the family purchased their home in the hope of creating a stable, supportive environment. Unfortunately, progress has been slow. Every step forward seems to be followed by multiple setbacks - leaks, structural complications, and constant repairs.
The house itself presents daily challenges. It is a cold, G-rated property plagued by damp and mould. The layout simply does not work for a family with complex sensory and emotional needs. They urgently need more space - space to regulate, to decompress, to feel safe - and, most importantly, space to support Noah as he grows into adulthood.