Car Crashes Into Brendan Courtney’s Home, He Counts His Blessings

Broadcaster and fashion designer Brendan Courtney experienced a narrow escape when a car crashed into his home in Wicklow late on Saturday night, March 30, 2025. The incident occurred just minutes after Courtney had been standing at the point of impact, highlighting the potential for a far more devastating outcome.

The driver, an 84-year-old woman, remarkably walked away from the wreckage. While Courtney expressed heartbreak over the damage inflicted on his home, which he had dedicated a year to renovating, he acknowledged the fortunate circumstances that allowed both him and the driver to emerge unharmed. “I could be dead or paralysed and she could be dead or seriously injured,” he told The Irish Times. “She came very close to hitting a lamp post at the front of my house head on, and that would have been a very different story. We were both a bit shook. But I am fine, and she is fine.”

The dramatic event began at approximately 23:05 when Courtney was preparing for bed. “The dog was on the bed and I was getting ready for bed too,” he recounted. “The whole house shook. I thought someone had lashed a brick through the window or maybe that it was a gas explosion.” It was only later, after downloading footage from his doorbell camera at the request of local authorities, that he realized how close he had been to the impact.

Courtney reflected on the peculiar nature of the incident, noting that this was not the first time he had experienced a car crashing into a home. “The odd twist is my parents’ house was on a corner, and we were known for our wall being crashed into when it was icy. I think that wall was crashed into 14 times,” he shared.

Following the crash, his builder—whom he affectionately referred to as his “superhero”—arrived promptly to assist with securing the property. While minor structural work was scheduled for the rear of the house in the coming weeks, the focus is now on the front, where “the whole wall likely needs replacing.”

Despite the extensive damage, Courtney remains optimistic. “I suppose the bottom line is I am fine, and she is fine, and we are both insured,” he stated. “It is the universe reminding us that we shouldn’t be worrying about the little things.”

In a gesture of compassion, Courtney invited the shaken driver into his home for a cup of tea while emergency services arrived on the scene. He praised the response of the police, fire brigade, and ambulance staff, stating, “They were brilliant, but she’s fine. She’s okay, bless her.”

This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictability of life and the importance of valuing safety and well-being above material possessions.