Oscar-nominated actress Saoirse Ronan is planning to demolish a seafront property in West Cork - and replace it with a stunning new home overlooking Roaringwater Bay. Ronan - who married Scottish actor Jack Lowden in a secret ceremony earlier this year - bought the house in Ballydehob in 2020 for a reported €650,000. The stone cottage sits on a 1.25-acre plot on the shoreline of Roaringwater Bay - an area renowned for its dramatic natural beauty. The plans include demolition of the existing house and its replacement with a three-bed home - as well as extensive landscaping of the gardens that run down to the water's edge.
Plans for a New Home
The existing cottage is 125 square meters - but Ronan's plans will see the size of the dwelling more than doubled, with plans for a 332 square meter house. Ronan also intends to move the cottage's private laneway to improve sight-lines around the property. The existing stone cottage features a conservatory giving amazing views of the bay. There's also a 70 square meter guesthouse adjacent to the main property, which does not figure in the demolition plans.
A West Cork Dream Home
As well as gorgeous views and plenty of space for landscaping, the property has its own mooring spot on the bay - perfect for private day trips if Ronan and Lowden fancy taking to the water. The application was filed with Cork County Council by Ronan's Dublin-based company Slaney Productions ULC. The plans were lodged on Friday, August 9 - and a response from the Council is expected by September.
A-Lister's West Cork Ties
Ronan bought the Ballydehob cottage through West Cork property experts James Lyons O’Keefe - and the actress' relocation to West Cork is no surprise as Ronan has long been in love with the area. She's been down to the Fastnet Film Festival before - and has even enjoyed a tour of the bay and Fastnet Lighthouse. By now locals are well used to catching a glimpse of the A-lister - who even has favorite restaurants and pubs picked out around Schull and Ballydehob.
Following in Other Celebs' Footsteps
Dream West Cork hideaways are proving popular with other celebrities, too - Graham Norton has a home in Ahakista near Bantry, while actor Paul Mescal and singer Phoebe Bridgers bought a farmhouse property near Schull before their break-up. The four-time Oscar-nom actress made her career start on RTÉ medical drama The Clinic in 2003 when she was just nine-years-old - before shooting to stardom with roles in major films like Atonement, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Lady Bird.
Building a Future Together
Newlyweds Saoirse Ronan and husband Jack Lowden are already planning their future as they get ready to build a new home in West Cork. Saoirse and Jack tied the knot in a low-key secret wedding in his native Scotland at the end of July. According to the Sunday Independent, a small number of the couple's closest pals were in attendance at their Edinburgh wedding, with all guests sworn to secrecy to avoid attention from the paparazzi.
A New Chapter in West Cork
After the celebrations, it is back to reality, but the couple have some big plans for their patch in the country. According to The Irish Independent, the actress is looking for planning permission to knock down the house that she bought during Covid. The purchase came after Saoirse sold her five-bed palatial home (4,800 sq ft) in Greystones, Co Wicklow for €1.6million in 2019 and moved in with her mum and dad in the interim. Filing the document with Cork Council, Saoirse is looking to knock down the two-bed cottage that is situated in Ballydehob and build one that looks out over Roaringwater Bay. The couple are believed to want to keep the natural environment around them, bringing little disruption to nature. The new house, if permission is granted, will feature three bedrooms and two en suites, a kitchen, living room/dining room, utility room, a library and two bathrooms.
