Many people are aware that you need 12 years of possession of a piece of property to succeed with a claim to be registered as owner by adverse possession.
However, there is another vital ingredient to a successful claim: animus possidendi (the intention to deprive the true owner of possession).
In other words, mere occupation for the requisite period of time is not enough. There must be some acts showing an intention to hold the property against the true, paper owner.
In other words, acts of ownership are necessary. Such acts could include, for example, the erection of a wall or fence or gate to exclude all, including the true, paper owner.
Learn more about adverse possession in Ireland here.