Bohermeen couple take a lead role in 'Cleaning Up Ireland'

A Bohermeen couple and their car valeting and detailing business are set to showcase on a new TV shows taking to the airwaves later this month.

'Cleaning Up Ireland', premiering Sunday February 22nd on Virgin Media PLAY is a new eight‑part series that goes behind the scenes with the country’s unsung heroes of hygiene. From scrubbing toilets and clearing drains to tackling illegal dumping and chasing down rodents, Cleaning Up Ireland lifts the lid on the essential yet often unseen work that keeps the country moving.

Meath-based cleaning company Car Lovers run by husband and wife, Michael and Niamh O'Brien are an expert car detailing studio, tackling everything from everyday tidy‑ups to full restorations.

Raised in a family immersed in the motor trade, Michael’s connection to cars began almost as soon as he could walk. From handing tools to his mechanic brother as a child to cleaning his first field car at just twelve years of age, cars were always central to his life.

After returning from Australia in the early 2000s and struggling to find steady employment, Michael began cleaning cars as a temporary solution. What started as a stopgap quickly became his future. In 2004, he opened Car Lovers. More than 21 years later, Car Lovers has evolved into a highly respected detailing operation, known for tackling jobs others turn away from. From everyday family cars to rare classics, Michael has cleaned vehicles affected by pet infestations, fire smoke, diesel spills, mould, biohazards and extreme neglect. Each challenge reinforced his belief that no two cars are the same - and that every vehicle deserves the same level of care as if it were his own.

At the core of Michael’s work is an obsessive attention to detail. A self-described perfectionist, he believes every square inch of a car must be right before it leaves the workshop. While the work is physically demanding, Michael remains deeply passionate about the craft. He describes detailing as both technical and emotional - restoring not just paintwork, but pride.

"Many customers fall back in love with their cars after seeing them transformed, often choosing to keep vehicles they once planned to sell. For Michael, that moment of handover - when a customer smiles, smells the interior, and sees their reflection in the paint - never loses its impact."

Car Lovers is very much a family operation. Michael works alongside his wife Niamh, whom he describes as the backbone of the business. While Michael is the engine, Niamh is the fuel - managing administration, organisation and balance, allowing the business to function smoothly.

Michael remains hands-on in every aspect of the business, driven by the same standards he set over two decades ago. Still guided by the belief that you are only as good as your last car, he continues to show up each day with pride, energy and respect for the craft.

'Cleaning Up Ireland', airs on Sunday February 22nd on Virgin Media PLAY at 9pm