New show about repurposed Leitrim building set to hit screens this September!

The Junction, Ballinamore, Leitrim, is set to be featured on a new TG4 programme, Buildings Beo, which celebrates six historic buildings as they are lovingly and skilfully brought back to life. 

A former railway station, The Junction is now a community centre following a regeneration project that cost €2.4m and is now a base for three different organisations offering youth, art and remote working services.

The railway station opened on the site in 1887 as a junction of the Cavan to Leitrim line but the line closed in 1959.

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The building was then used to house St Felim's secondary school from 1962 to 2014.

Carrie heads to Ballinamore for the second episode where "she falls in love with the town's old railway station, which has fallen into disuse and dereliction. She’ll learn of how Ballinamore Community Council devised an exciting plan to revitalise the area by transforming the stunning red-brick junction house into a dynamic multi-purpose hub: the beating heart of the town. From conception to completion, she’ll meet a colourful cast of characters, who’re all united in their mission to breathe new life into the junction house."

Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Cllr Ita Reynolds said that it was "the railway in Ballinamore and after the railway was closed and then became St Felim's secondary school. When the school was closed, the building was left vacant because a new school was built in Ballinamore"

Cllr Reynolds continued that Ballinamore Community Council along with Leitrim County Council came up with a new project for the site. "The Junction consists of the art school, which is just second to none. Then we have hot desks for those who work remotely as well as the Ballinamore Youth Action Project (BYAP), a UBU project. So it can be used for all of the community from young to old. It is also used by people with disabilities and those in Active Age groups."

She also noted that the project won the "Best Town Regeneration Project" award at the 2025 LAMA Awards.

In a statement to the Leitrim Observer, the creators of the show said it is "not only about the renovation of heritage buildings all around the country, but also about the people and the communities who bring these buildings to life. In this series, Carrie Crowley takes a closer look at six inspiring projects across Ireland, where derelict architectural legacies are being preserved and transformed into vital community spaces."

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It continued: "With over 166,000 vacant buildings in Ireland today, Buildings Beo sheds light on the urgent need for renewal of abandoned spaces. With projects ranging from historical mills to old schoolhouses, each episode of the series follows the journey of a different restoration, showcasing the trials, tribulations and triumphs that come with preserving Ireland's architectural heritage. Some of the remarkable restorations include the transformation of the historic Hope Castle Gate Lodge into a thriving community library in Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan and the redevelopment of a fire-ravaged cinema into a state-of-the-art local theatre in Cork’s market town of Macroom."

The statement concluded: "Audiences will be wowed as each episode culminates in a final reveal, as all the hard work comes together and the building is brought back to life. Throughout the series, Carrie meets with the architects, builders, and communities driving these restoration projects (no easy task!), offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the transformation process. Through compelling storytelling and stunning visuals, 'Buildings Beo' celebrates Ireland's rich cultural and architectural heritage, demonstrating how it takes a village to make a building Beo."

Cllr Reynolds said that The Junction is "a great example of a successful community venture and it really is thanks to the community of Ballinamore and Leitrim County Council!" 

Buildings Beo is airing on TG4 starting September 25, at 9:30 PM, with the series running through October.