Episode 2 – Building Ireland
8.30pm, RTÉ One, Monday 17th November 2025
Ireland is facing a housing and infrastructure crisis, and for every house we build, we need approximately 300 tonnes of raw materials, which is the equivalent of a house-sized hole in the ground. But how many of us ever think about where all these building materials come from? Ireland has a natural wealth of core building materials, and we head underground in Monaghan to explore the story of gypsum, a mineral that formed hundreds of millions of years and is now mined as an essential component in the production of the plasterboard that lines the walls of many of our buildings.
The housing challenge is further complicated by the climate crisis. Concrete is the second most used material in the world after water, but its carbon footprint is massive. And if we build more, we emit more, and with an ageing workforce and skills shortage, we need to rethink and modernise our construction methods. In Cavan, we investigate new technologies and materials that could revolutionise the construction industry and help it be more efficient and sustainable.
Of course, it’s not always about the new… Ireland is full of beautiful historic buildings and sometimes the greenest construction is the one that already exists. We meet the researchers and stonemasons who are using science to preserve and restore Ireland’s built heritage – its bridges, castles, churches and civic buildings – with care, precision and authenticity.
If you missed the episode, catch up here on the RTE Player