Can I move a right of way in Ireland?

A right of way is a property right belonging to the owner of the dominant land (the land that benefits from it), so the owner of the servient land, over which the route passes, cannot simply move it to a new route without the beneficiary's agreement. Even if the alternative route seems equally convenient, unilaterally diverting a right of way risks a legal dispute.

Where both parties agree to relocate the route, this should be documented formally, typically by a deed of variation or release and re-grant, which is then ideally registered against the relevant folios so future owners are also bound by the new arrangement. Verbal agreements or informal changes on the ground are harder to rely on and can cause problems on a future sale.

If agreement cannot be reached, the existing right of way continues along its original route, and building over or obstructing it without consent could expose the landowner to a legal claim. In some development contexts it may be worth offering an improved alternative route as an incentive to reach agreement, but this remains a negotiation rather than an entitlement.