Unless, you are on the most back of back roads with very few other people using it, DO NOT chance digging the trench without permission. The council will go to town on you if they cop it, and it will become a very expensive trench!!
In Cork, officially you must pay the council a fee to allow you to dig the road, and it must be done by a contractor who is approved by the council.
Also bear in mind that if you dig the road without the proper go ahead and there is an accident later, you could be liable....even if you had very little to do with causing it!