New edition of Donegal Rebuild offers practical advice for homeowners

The winter edition of Donegal Rebuild magazine has been launched and is in shops now, offering a comprehensive, practical guide for families facing the challenge of demolishing and rebuilding homes affected by defective blocks.

Now in its third edition, the 164-page publication provides clear, accessible information on every stage of the process, from applying for State grant assistance to obtaining planning permission and hiring a contractor. It also offers tips and advice on furnishing and decorating newly built homes.

The magazine is filled with feature articles on a wide range of topics.

In one, Buncrana couple Áine and Donal Daly recount their long and difficult journey from being among the first people in the country to realise something was seriously wrong with their home's blocks to spending the next 15 years attending Mica Action Group meetings and lobbying for a redress scheme as their home deteriorated around them.

Having rebuilt their family home in Trillick and moved back in during the spring, the couple reflect on the emotional toll of the experience and how, several months on, they are beginning to put some distance between themselves and the trauma of living in a defective home.

In a powerful photo essay, Angela Tourish revisits some of the defective homes she photographed three years ago to document the scale of the crisis. She has photographed them again following reconstruction, capturing the transformation as families return to their rebuilt homes.

Architect Shane Doherty, who has guided many homeowners through the rebuilding process, shares his advice on designing a home that will meet a family's needs for generations to come.

The magazine also features The Secret Builder who has completed several homes under the scheme, offering an insight into the realities of rebuilding from the builder's perspective.

With home-heating oil prices hitting new heights, renewable energy is another key theme. Editor Damian Dowds examines the benefits of solar power and how the sun started footing the electricity bill.

Other features cover building options, energy efficiency, project management, landscaping and the latest interior design trends.

The magazine also includes a directory of trusted tradespeople and service providers, many of whom have direct experience supporting homeowners affected by defective blocks through the reconstruction process.

“Defective blocks have destroyed countless homes in Donegal, and while hundreds of families have already rebuilt their homes, it's lies ahead for many thousands more,” magazine editor Damian Dowds said. “This magazine provides reams of information, advice and contact details for anyone who already knows their home is in trouble, or thinks it might be. It really is an invaluable resource - I wish I had one like it when my family started on its rebuild journey.”

Published by Iconic Media Group, Donegal Rebuild runs to 164 pages and retails at €5.95. It is widely available in shops and other outlets across counties Donegal and Derry.

The magazine is available in the following shops:

Eurospar Hatfield 155 Creggan Road Derry City

Carlisle Stores 11 Carlisle Road Derry City

Spar Cullmore 1 Ballynagard Neighbourhood Cntr Culmore

The Lunch Box 1 Ardarvaran Square Buncrana

Carrick Supplies Main St Carrick

Blaney Stores - Lagg Milford

Milford McKennas Moville Main Street Moville

Umricam Filling Station Buncrana Buncrana

Glencar Service Station Circular Rd Letterkenny

Spar Glencar Shopping Centre Letterkenny

Harkins Forecourt Derry Rd. St Johnston Lifford

Hugh McCarron Springhill Quigleys Point

Super Valu Ballybofey Navenny Ballybofey

Kernans Letterkenny Letterkenny

Letterkenny McFadden's The Mall Main St. Ramelton

Kilmacrennan Fuels Ltd Milltown Kilmacrennan

Donegal Town Service Station Drumlonagher Donegal Town

Lynch's Eurospar Skeoge Skeoge Derry

Easons Letterkenny S/C Letterkenny

McCloskeys Day To Day Rosemount Derry

Mc Faddens Gala Shop Breenagh P O Letterkenny

Craig's 168 Spencer Road Derry

Callaghans Motorway Stores Ltd Bohillion Burt

Templecrone Co Op Main Street Dungloe

Harkins Shop Muff Muff

Old Dalys Lifford Lifford

Pat & Jim O Reilly William Street Derry

Sunrise 24-7 Derry Derry

Supervalu Buncrana Buncrana

Supervalu 8 Main Street Eglinton

Vivo Bond Street Waterside Derry

Vivo Essentials Park Park Claudy

Supervalu Carndonagh Carndonagh

Mckennas Centra Buncranna Derry Road Buncrana

Mary Cassidy Inver Inver

Kernans Xl & Roadside Diner Parkside, Trentboy Drumkeen

Centra Supermarket Derry Road Moville

Mac S Bookshop & Newsagents 50 Upper Main Street Buncrana

Bradleys Service Station Ltd Fahan Fahan

Kernans Castlefinn Castlefin

Castlefin Mc Laughlins Clonmany Clonmany

American House Bundoran Bundoran

Curran's Killybegs Killybegs

Kernan's Supermarket Main Street Newtown

Contae Teoranta Limited Dungloe Dungloe

Costcutter Moville Gulladuff Moville

Mcfaddens Convenience Store Strabane Strabane

Muff Service Station Main Street Muff

Centra Malin Malin Town Malin

Maple Ballyliffin Annaugh Clonmany

Kellys Filling Station Carndonagh Carndonagh

Sweet News Main Street Killybegs

Marina Boyle Arranmore Arranmore

Killybegs Service Station Donegal Road Killybegs

Eason Courtyard Shopping Centre Letterkenny

Annagry Co Op Annagry Annagry

Boyce's Centra Co Donegal Dunfanaghy

Callaghan's Filling Station Moness Burt

Clarkes Lower Main Street Letterkenny

Mullen's Malin Head Malin Head

Mc Kenna's Drung Drung

Quigleys Point Cullen's Cockhill Buncrana Buncrana

Simpsons Supermarket Sliabh Sneacht Letterkenny

Tobins Service Station Port Road Letterkenny

Supervalu Donegal Town The Glebe Donegal Town

Centra Main St Muff

Eurospar Market Square Ramelton

Raphoe Newsagency The Diamond Raphoe

Sheerins Londis Mountcharles Mountcharles

Costcutter Glenties Glenties

Burnfoot Service Station Grianan Vale Burnfoot

Columba Diver Ardara Ardara

Simpsons Supermarket Tulnaree Carndonagh

Letterkenny Hospital Shop Letterkenny Letterkenny

Gala Shop Crossroads Killygordon

Supervalu Bundoran Market Square Shopping Centre Bundoran

Swilly Foodstores Ballyraine Letterkenny

Maple Derrybeg Lunniagh, Gweedore Derrybeg

J&A Marley Cloghan Beg F93Dr67 Lifford

Costcutter Express Gortahork Letterkenny

Border Stores Altaghnaderry Killea

Seaview Hotel Ballygorman Malin Head

Supervalu Shopping Centre Caramore Road Dungloe

Castle Convenience Store Main St. Greencastle

Silverfern Donegal Town Donegal Town

Carndonagh Shopping Centre Ltd Church Road Carndonagh

Costcutter Letterkenny Glencar Letterkenny

Dalys Stat Oil Lifford Lifford

Holmes Service Station Killybegs Road Donegal Town

Ardara Filling Station Ltd Portnoo Road Ardara

Hegarty's Kilcar Kilcar Kilcar

Ballyshannon Service Station Assaroe Road Ballyshannon

Kernans Spar Ramelton Ramelton

Gallaghers Newsagency Butcher Street Lifford

Post Office Main Street Convoy

Meenanary P O Carrick Carrick

Lynott Corner Shop James Street Moville

Castle Centre Bridge Street Donegal Town

Supervalu 143 Strand Road Derry City

Spar - West End Bundoran Bundoran

Centra Navenny Ballybofey

Altez Ardara Ardara

Spar 16 Church Meadow, Rossdowney Road Derry

Melaughs Newsagents 96 Bishop Street Derry City

Kernans Newmills Tullygay Letterkenny

Kernans Spar Townparks Ballyshannon

Barrs Shop Carnhill Derry

Morgans Portnoo Portnoo

Po Portnoo

Costcutter Express 13 Upper Main Street Letterkenny

Centra Waterloo Place Derry

Mace Main Street Dungloe

Abbey Garage Ballyshannon Ballyshannon

Rathmor Centre Blighs Lane Creggan

Centra The Diamond Raphoe

Craigs Costcutter Crescent Link Waterside

Caw Supermarket Seymour Gardens Caw

Macs Deli & Bakery High Road Letterkenny

Northland Service Station Northland Road Derry

Finnegans Shop Rossnowlagh Rossnowlagh

Gallahers Xl Stop & Shop Lettermacaward Lettermacaward

Garden City Stores Culmore Road Derry

Kellys Spar 1 Fairview Road,Galliagh Derry City

Hegartys Killybegs Killybegs

Inniskeel Co Op Main Street Glenties

Burtonport Filling Station Burtonport

Letterkenny

Falcarragh S/Station Main Street Falcarragh

Carrigart Service Station Church Road Carrigart

Ballykelly Village Centre (Supervalmain Street Ballykelly

John Macs Donegal Town Donegal Town

Kernans Carrigart Carrigart

Carrigart Odonnells Shop Main Street, Carrigans Lifford

Spar 58 Main Street Claudy

Costcutters Ballybofey Main Street Ballybofey

McCloskey's Creggan Street Derry

Mace Bracken Park Galliagh Galliagh

Mark & Linda Clerkin Lettermacaward Lettermacaward

Gala Express Loughanure Annagry

Mdm Supermarket F92 Akw3 Letterkenny

Michael McIntyre Donegal Town Donegal Town

Moores Shop Dunfanaghy Dunfanaghy

Vivo Church Brae 60 Church Brae Derry

Barrys Of Bruckless Bruckless Bruckless

McGuinness' Of Culdaff Co Donegal Culdaff

Collon Autopoint 20 Buncrana Road Derry

Cassidy's Newsagent Main Street Ballintra

Spar 24-26 Spencer Road Waterside

Vivo/Shell Creeslough Letterkenny

Crolly Filling Station Crolly P O Letterkenny

Cottage Store Main Street Manorunningham

McGlynn's Ballybofey Ballybofey

Sweeneys Petrol Station Ballyraine Letterkenny

Lindsay Manorunningham Manorunningham

Spar 7 Park Avenue Rosemount

Centra Quickstop 139 Strand Road Derry City

Nearbuy Gallaghers Post Office Main Street Pettigo

McAteer's Fanad Fanad

Doherty's Fanad Fanad

Gallagher's Derrybeg Derrybeg

Mace Main Street Stranorlar

Alexanders Main Street Ballybofey

Molloy's Supermarket Derrybeg Derrybeg

Trench Road Supermarket Trench Road Derry City

Dunlewey Service Station Dunlewey Gweedore

Letterkenny Byrne Cashel Glencolmcille

Glencolmcille Supermarket 2000 Stranorlar Stranorlar

Gallaghers Gortahork Gortahork

Dunaff P.O. Clonmany Clonmany

Mace Main Street Dunkineely

Kee's Main Street Laghey Laghey

Mc Gees Service Station Falcarragh Falcarragh

Londis Supermarket Main Street Convoy

Boyces Centra Main Street Falcarragh

Andies Supermarket Main Street Stranorlar

Clancy's Castlefin Lifford Lifford

McGrory's Main Street Pettigo Pettigo

Spar Buncrana Road Derry

Oldtown Stores Old Town Road Letterkenny

Nisa Beechwood Beechwood Derry

Paper Stop Glenties Glenties Glenties

Simpsons Supermarket East End Bundoran

Dry Arch Complex Bonagee Letterkenny

Laffertys Foodstore Culkeeny Malin

Boyce Bros Carrigart Carrigart

Supervalu Killybegs Killybegs Killybegs

Supervalu Greenhaw Road Derry

Supervalu Duncastle Road New Buildings

Supervalu Woodburn Waterside

The Link Service Station 180 Creggan Road Derry City

Templecrone Co Op Kincasslagh Kincasslagh

The Cope Foodstore Main Street Falcarragh

Glenties Services Gortnamucklagh Glenties