Can a right of way prevent me building in Ireland?

If a right of way legally exists over part of your land, you generally cannot build in a way that blocks, narrows or substantially interferes with the right without the consent of the person who benefits from it, even though you own the underlying land. This is because a right of way is a real property right attached to the other land, not merely a permission that you can withdraw.

From a planning perspective, a local authority assessing an application will usually want to see that legal access to the site, and to any neighbouring property relying on a right of way, is maintained. If a proposal would obstruct a known right of way, this can be a ground for refusal, or the authority may impose conditions requiring the access to be preserved or an alternative agreed.

In some cases it may be possible to negotiate with the person who benefits from the right of way to relocate, narrow or extinguish it by agreement, but this requires their consent and, generally, a formal deed of variation or release; it cannot usually be done unilaterally. Building over or obstructing a right of way without agreement can expose you to a legal claim for an injunction or damages.