Breanndán Ó Beaglaíoch's battle to build a house on his own land

'Civil servants have no feelings towards what I love: music, art, the Irish language —  I come from that era where you were totally attached to a place. As an artist, I need to feel that I’m at home'

Breanndán Begley in The Man With The Moving House

In 2006, the musician and broadcaster Breanndán Ó Beaglaíoch wanted to build a house on his own land in the Dingle Peninsula to live in. A county engineer assured him he’d have no trouble with the planning authorities; he told him he could build two houses on his site. He spoke too soon. Ó Beaglaíoch was refused planning permission and soon found himself cast into a Kafkaesque battle with the Kerry County Council to build a home in his village.

“I was told I hadn’t proven I was from the area in the application,” says Ó Beaglaíoch. “I had to go to the parish priest. He had to write a letter for me. Then I was told I hadn't proven I had a housing need, even though I was on the housing list. I had to show personal, private information about the resolution of my marriage with my ex-wife — who is a very good friend of mine — to them, which was, to say the least, embarrassing.