Elaine Crowley celebrates huge life milestone after 'nightmare' search
She is a beloved face on morning television, but behind the scenes, Elaine Crowley has been fighting a battle far more exhausting than a 5:00am alarm: the Dublin property market.
The Cork native was the undisputed star of the sartorial show as she swanned into the Intercontinental Hotel on Wednesday for the launch of the Style Awards.
Dressed in a figure-hugging ensemble, the perennially upbeat presenter revealed she is finally poised to get hold of the keys to her very first home in one of the most fashionable corners of the city.
Elaine Crowley at the launch of the Vacious Mesh Plunge Bodysuit in Dublin. Pic: Brian McEvoy
The Ireland AM favourite, who turns 49 this year, told EVOKE that she has secured a property in the trendy Dublin 8 area—but the journey there was anything but glamorous.
Describing the house-hunting process as a ‘nightmare,’ Elaine revealed she was gazumped ‘left, right, and center’ by buyers with seemingly bottomless pockets.
‘Everything is 100 grand more than it should be,’ she admitted, reflecting on the skyrocketing prices that have left many potential homeowners in despair. ‘The property situation is just another joke.’
Elaine Crowley at the announcement of the nominees for the Style Awards. Pic: Brian McEvoy
The move was sparked by the grim reality of the current rental crisis. With stock at an all-time low, Elaine confessed that the fear of the unknown pushed her to act.
‘That’s what scared me,’ she said. ‘There’s nothing out there really to rent. I had to buy something. Thankfully, I did eventually.’
While she joked that the purchase has left her ‘totally broke’ and with ‘no money for the foreseeable future,’ the star was clearly beaming with pride at reaching the milestone.
It comes at a perfect time, as she prepares to celebrate her 50th birthday next year. ‘I’m delighted,’ she said of the upcoming big five-oh.
Elaine Crowley at the launch of the Vacious Mesh Plunge Bodysuit at Sole Restaurant, Dublin. Pic: Brian McEvoy
Elaine continued: ‘I thought I’d be well gone by now! I’m held together by Pritt Stick, glue, and a few staplers, but I’m still in one piece.’
Despite the early starts and the ‘great crack’ with her morning co-hosts, Elaine isn't sticking her head in the sand when it comes to future career moves.
Having successfully fronted her own self-titled chat show, Elaine, for years, she didn't shut down rumors of a potential move to the biggest gig in Irish broadcasting: The Late Late Show.
Tommy Bowe, Elaine Crowley, and Cathy Kelly on Ireland AM. Pic: Instagram
‘Never say never,’ she teased. ‘Sure, who wouldn't do the Late Late? But sometimes a change is as good as a rest.’
For now, however, the focus is firmly on her new D8 ‘fixer-upper.’
With a six-month to one-year redecorating project ahead of her, the nation's favourite has more than enough on her hands to keep her busy.
