A musician from Cork said he was considering moving abroad as he was being evicted from his home and couldn’t afford the current rental market.
Artin Leahy, 46, from Ballinadee, Bandon, Co Cork is currently renting a house in the area but with his landlord selling he is being forced to find new accommodation.
He wants to rent another house in the area big enough for his equipment, but even a small bungalow costs 1,200 euros, which he can’t afford.
For this reason, he is considering moving to France, where accommodation seems much cheaper.
Mr. Leahy’s current situation is the inspiration for his new song Everyone should have a home protesting against what appears to be a worsening property crisis in Ireland.
“I’m looking for apartments but the prices are so crazy I just can’t afford to rent an apartment or do it here anymore so I’m thinking about moving abroad,” he told the Independent. ie.
“I don’t know what to do – I’m still looking and hoping I don’t have to go.
“It’s about €1,200 for a one-bedroom room, I can’t pay that, I’d like to stay in the country to have space for my gear, but I can’t because something like a little cottage, there was an apartment near where I live and it costs €1,200 for a small house without furniture, I can’t manage it.
“I’ve been thinking about moving to France, I know someone who lives there and he said it was very affordable.”
The singer-songwriter has been in the music industry for 25 years, working as a session musician before beginning to produce his own songs during the pandemic.
video of the day
He has worked with Christy Moore, John Spillane, Ger Wolfe and many others but said the internet has been fantastic as it has given him the opportunity to showcase his own songs.
“I’ve been a professional musician for most of my life, but when the pandemic hit I always had the idea of releasing my own songs and when the pandemic hit it gave me space to do that,” said Mr. Leahy.
“I released my first solo song in 2020 and it did really well, so I kept going.
“I love that aspect [the internet]it opened it up, a guy like me probably wouldn’t have had the resources to release music without that, so having your own little TV channel it’s a great feeling.
