Achill-born developer Joe McNamara has been refused permission by An Bord Pleanala to retain his so-called Achill-henge structure on a hilltop in Pollagh, Achill.

Mr McNamara had appealed against Mayo County Council’s decision that the structure required planning permission.

He claimed the Stonehenge-type structure, which was built last November, was exempt from development.

Today’s Mayo News reports that An Bord Pleanala has now sided with the local authority, ruling that the structure does constitute a development in planning terms, and therefore requires planning permission.

In March, the High Court ruled that, if An Bord Pleanala ruled in Mayo County Council’s favour, then Mr McNamara must take down the structure himself.

A spokesman for the council has told the Mayo News that they will be considering the matter in the coming days.

There has been much speculation about the purpose of the concrete structure, which Mr McNamara previously described as “a place for reflection”.

The Achill-born developer also hit the headlines last year, when he was behind a series of high-profile protests against Anglo Irish Bank.