Actor Robert Sheehan has applied for planning permission to significantly alter his West Cork farmhouse, a move that will be closely watched after similar plans by fellow Irish actor Saoirse Ronan were rejected by local authorities. Sheehan, known for his roles in Misfits, Love/Hate, and Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, purchased the property, Stream Valley, on two acres near Aughadown, between Skibbereen and Ballydehob, for €545,000 in 2022 or 2023.
The application, submitted through Wexford-based Stephen Carr Architects, details plans to raise the roof of the existing farmhouse, renovate the structure, and connect it to an adjacent roofless stone ruin. Sheehan has already undertaken some work, including the demolition of a conservatory, for which retention permission is now being sought. The overall investment in the property is estimated to exceed €1 million, according to planning documents.
Sheehan’s arrival in West Cork adds to a growing presence of Irish actors in the area. Paul Mescal, who recently turned 30, has a home near Schull, and Ronan owns a property on Roaringwater Bay. The trio’s presence has led to the area being dubbed a ‘Craic Pack’ by some observers. Mescal and Ronan are slated to appear together in The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, scheduled for release in 2028, portraying Linda and Paul McCartney respectively, potentially offering opportunities for rehearsal in their shared West Cork locale.
The area has long been a draw for celebrities; Jeremy Irons purchased and renovated Kilcoe Castle in 1998, establishing a precedent for high-profile residents seeking a quieter life in the region. Sheehan himself has spoken of a “yearning to move back to Ireland” after years living in London and Los Angeles, seeking a “community vibe” and a slower pace of life. He has been residing in a mobile home on the property while the renovations are planned and underway, sharing the space with his partner and dog, Rory.
Ronan’s recent planning application was refused in 2024 when she sought to demolish a 1,200sq ft dormer home near Ballydehob and replace it with a single-storey dwelling three times the size. West Cork planners determined that she had not adequately justified the demolition of the existing structure and that the proposed modern design would not integrate harmoniously with the rural coastal landscape, negatively impacting the area’s visual appeal.
Sheehan will hope for a more favorable outcome. No new planning application has yet been filed regarding Ronan’s property, leaving the future of her West Cork home uncertain. Ronan and her husband, Jack Lowden, reportedly had their first child last September, following a low-key wedding in 2024.
