A full-time artist who can’t get either a mortgage or car insurance has evicted sheep from a rural derelict cottage to renovate into his new home.
Acclaimed Co Louth artist Ciaran Dunlevy moved to the hills of Donegal when his father offered him the run-down dwelling after he was refused a mortgage.
The 38-year-old has spent up to €20,000 renovating his new abode stage by stage into an environmentally-friendly home, powered by solar and water power, since he moved to the Blue Stack Mountains outside Donegal town last May.
The Drogheda native claims that artists and writers are often penalised by insurers and mortgage companies because of their profession, adding that he has also failed many times to get car insurance.
He said: “I was sick of paying high rents and, after being turned down for a mortgage yet again because I’m an artist, my dad, who hails from Donegal, told me to renovate a derelict cottage on his property up there.
“I moved my caravan here in May and had to evict a load of sheep from the cottage. They weren’t happy at all, they kept knocking down the blockades I put around the house and head-butting my caravan but eventually they realised they weren’t getting back in,” he laughed.
Ciaran has relied on good advice from friends and family in the construction trade and binge watched Grand Designs for tips on restoring his new pad.
“I’ve replaced the roof so far but kept it as a flat roof and I’ve reinstated the old flag stones on the floor. I’ve also a water filter with a reverse osmosis system to harness water from a nearby stream and turn it into drinking water.
“I’ve a small water turbine which gives a constant 150 watts which is enough to power a fridge and a few lightbulbs.
“I’m leading the simple life. I’ve a gas cooker, a stove, a mini-fridge, some lights, two beds, a table chair and couch. I use a local leisure centre to shower and I have an organic compost toilet but I hope to install a natural filter system soon for my own proper shower and toilet facilities."
Ciaran is well-known for his mural of Francis Ledwidge on the side of a building in Slane to commemorate the centenary anniversary of the death of the Meath World War 1 poet.
He also presented a portrait of Princess Grace to her son Prince Albert of Monaco during a visit to Drogheda.
“I’ve been working as a full-time artist since I was 20 but because my work is so unreliable, no-one will give me a mortgage or a loan. All this work is carried out stage by stage with funding from each art project I complete.
“I also can’t get car insurance, despite the fact that I have a no-claims bonus and a full-licence. One recent quote was for nearly €5,000 on a jeep so I rely on being on my parents’ policy.
"It really is ridiculous how Ireland is lauded for its artists, composers and writers but yet penalises them in this regard.”
The cottage sits on 96 acres of bog land but Ciaran hopes to use the six acres that is arable to organically farm and keep bees down the line.
“I really feel I’m out of the rat race. I’m not in debt and as only carry out work according to what I can afford each month. My stress levels are non-existent up here and you really learn to appreciate the moment.”
