Mourners heard how the TV star, who died suddenly at home at the age of 68 on Monday, and his husband, Martin Corbett, were planning to move to a new home this weekend.
His funeral service took place this morning at a packed St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, with mourners including presenters Dermot Bannon and Brendan Courtney in attendance.
At the beginning of the service, one of Mr Wallace’s favourite songs, Judy Garland’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow, was played.
Dean of the cathedral, the Very Reverend William Morton, who led the service, described Mr Wallace as ”honest, direct, passionate, challenging and deeply human” and as a “man who quite literally shaped the spaces in which others live their lives”.
“He lived fully. He lived deeply. He left his mark unmistakably,” he told the mourners.
“For the last 10 years, since beginning with the series Home of the Year, television viewers were delighted to welcome Hugh into their living rooms. His endearing and gregarious nature, his good humour and optimism, and the fact that he was always so unassuming meant that we all thought he had been on our screens for far longer than he had,” he said.
“He was, as we say, a natural with his characteristic voice, his large spectacles, colourful shirts and jumpers.
“Hugh, of course, was known to many through his work on television, knowledgeable, forthright, unafraid to speak plainly and never short of conviction, he understood buildings, but more than that, he understood people.”
Martin Corbett leaving after the funeral service of Hugh Wallace who passed away unexpectedly at home. Photo: SAM BOAL/Collins Photos
Mr Wallace, who was also baptised at the cathedral, and his husband were planning to move into their new house this weekend.
“A home is where love abides, and everyone who knew Hugh knows that his true home was found in his life with Martin in shared work, shared laughter, shared dreams and shared courage. Their new home held so much in store for them, yet the love that filled those plans does not vanish with death,” Rev Morton added.
The dean said he was “fascinated” to hear from Mr Wallace’s close ones about the couple’s new house – located just next door to their current home.
“Hugh had successfully sought planning permission to have a window put into his bedroom from which he could see the spire of St Patrick’s [Cathedral].
“And now, as the spire he saw from his window still stands over the city, so too does the impact of his life stand as it always will in the hearts of those who knew him and who respected him,” he added.
During the funeral, John Waters paid a tribute to his late friend by making a speech as if Hugh Wallace himself was speaking to mourners.
“I’m afraid I was taken by complete surprise on Sunday. I didn’t think I’d get a sudden exit. I had assumed a more flamboyant exit in years to come, after much more TV success and perhaps a couple of BAFTA Awards, because the rumours were there.
“Things were going so well. Douglas Wallace Consultants were flying. My TV career was flying, and furniture was coming for the house that Martin and I had been working on for three years.
“With everything that was going on, I’m afraid the universe took its own decision on Sunday night, and here we all are.”
Mr Wallace, who was a judge on every RTÉ’s Home of the Year, was born in 1956 as the only child of Susan and Kenneth.
TV personality Dermot Bannon leaving after the funeral of Hugh Wallace. Photo: SAM BOAL/Collins Photos
He met his husband, Martin Corbett, on Valentine’s Day in 1988 at the George bar in Dublin.
“Martin has often accused me of having only child syndrome, and I take that as meaning I’m a special person,” Mr Waters continued, speaking on behalf of Mr Wallace.
“Some of you may remember the phrase in Dublin that love stories begin at [nightclub] Zhivago. A lot of fairy tales also began at the George pub in Dublin, and Martin and I were part of a fairy tale. It was Valentine’s night of 1988, and we lasted together for 37 years, which I’d take again if I could.
“Martin never really bought into the celebrity stuff. Martin loved me for me; he became my civil partner in 2012, and he stuck with me to the end, right up until Sunday night.
“We really did travel the world together and meet very interesting people, but behind the celebrity and the public persona, Martin and I were really two ordinary guys. We had the same hopes, fears, dreams and wants as everyone else.
“I’m just going to ask you to remember I’ve had some of the best times of my life with most of you, or some of you. It’s important that when you think of those, you smile, don’t be sad. Give Martin a shoulder to lean on if he needs it, be kind to each other.”
He later quoted William Shakespeare, and said: “Let thee all remember that a pop of colour will brighten your day.”
TV presenter Brendan Courtney arrives for the funeral of tv personality and architect Hugh Wallace who passed away unexpectedly at home on the 1st of Dec 2025. The funeral is taking place in St Patricks Cathedral, Dublin. Photo: SAM BOAL/Collins Photos
Mr Wallace always knew he was going to have a career in architecture and design, he said.
“I met a kindred spirit, Alan Douglas, and by the end of 1982, in the face of a biting recession, we set up Douglas Wallace architects from our rented flat in Blackrock. So things were starting to move, and we were starting to be known. It was a mad, busy time. There were ups, there were downs, there were tears, there was laughter, there was building of lifetime friendships.
“Then came the 90s, and we got bigger contracts, shopping centres, bars, restaurants. We grew, projects got bigger. Our offices got bigger. We had offices in London, Belfast, Prague. We’re doing hotels with designers and hotels with visionaries.
“Then came 2008, and we all fell over the cliff. They say you can’t keep good men down. And from the ashes of Douglas Wallace mark one came Douglas Wallace Consultants, a new gang of tightly knit directors, of which I am pleased to say I was still part.
”Later on in my career, I got a real lucky break in relation to the TV programmes. It was such a shock to me that that came at that age, but I really embraced it.
“As you all know, I loved it, and I’m chuffed to bits with the feedback that I got in terms of the knowledge that I was able to share. I was privileged to do that in the way I did,” he added.
The funeral cortege arrives at Dublin’s St Patrick’s Cathedral. Photo: SAM BOAL/Collins Photos
