Dream Treehouse Build with Glenveagh and Dermot Bannon

(photo: Glenveagh Senior Marketing Manager Martin Clancy, Competition winner Jack Farrington & Architect Dermot Bannon)

It’s not every day that Dermot Bannon shows up at your front door to officially hand over the keys of a dream tree house that you designed yourself! That’s exactly what happened to Dundalk’s Jack Farrington this November, when his winning design came to life with a unique treehouse built right in his own back garden.

Earlier this year, Jack and his family were among thousands of festival goers at Kaleidoscope Presented by Glenveagh, where Dermot Bannon hosted a Design Masterclass in Elemen-Tree Woods, Glenveagh’s fun-packed zone at the festival. Dermot challenged budding young designers to draw their dream treehouse, using tips the award-winning architect and host of TV’s Room To Improve, gave them on the day. One lucky winner would win their very own treehouse built in their garden. The competition was fierce, but Jack’s creativity stood out, winning him the unique prize.

Dermot Bannon tells us why Jack's was the winning design: "The shape of this tree house with all the levels, and the tower, I think it could make for some really cool spaces inside. The colours used are fantastic and would look great in a garden. I like also the fact that it doesn't need a tree to be built; the crisscross supports give it a forest feel. Well done Jack”.

The Big Build

Architect Dermot Bannon and ten-year old Jack Farrington turned out to be a winning team when it came to creating a treehouse like no other. They hit it off as Jack’s imagination and Dermot’s ability to capture a child’s creativit ygot to work, with a little help from Glenveagh of course, as we set about the Big Build.

Unlike most of Dermot’s projects, this one included a slide, swings, climbing zones,sound systems, basket hoops and even “no-parent” dens in their requirements. Glenveagh took on the challenge and Glenveagh’s Senior Marketing Manager Martin Clancy assembled a skilled team of treehouse builders to turn Jack’s dream into a reality. Martin says:

“Delivering Jack’s dream treehouse was an incredible experience. Seeing his creativity come to life was inspiring for our whole team. Kaleidoscope Festival was the perfect setting to spark that creativity in children, giving them the freedom to dream big and imagine their ideal spaces. We were thrilled to be part of a project that captured such imagination and joy”.

Watch as Jack's dream treehouse takes shape: