Community protest against 26-turbine windfarm granted approval by An Bord Pleanála
A protest against plans for a 26-turbine wind farm on the Meath/Westmeath border took place over the weekend with campaigners against the development saying "little to no consideration has been given to our local environment, its people and the amenity of our homes that we have always enjoyed."
Bord na Móna Powergen Ltd was granted a ten-year planning permission to construct 26 turbines with a tip height of 200m in the townlands of Clondalee More, Derryconor, Clonycavan, Robinstown, Coolronan, Doolystown, and Moyfeagher in Co Meath, as well as Lisclogher Great, Cockstown, Clonmorrill, Clonleame, Bracklin, Craddanstown, Killagh, Grange More and Riverdale in County Westmeath.
Approximately 150 people from the Communities of Delvin, Coolronan, Ballivor, Killyon, Raharney & Bracklyn braved the Arctic conditions on Saturday January 4th, and at short notice, to demonstrate their ongoing opposition to the combined Bracklyn and Bord na Mona windfarms.
Campaigners against the plans say these industrial developments will result in 38 super-structures (35 x 200m Turbines and 3 x 100m windmasts) being placed throughout the area, all within view of homes as well as sites of historical significance, within 40km circumference. Up to 600 homes will be within 1000m of many of the turbines. Bord Pleanala has recently granted permission for these two windfarms.
Vincent Cunningham, a leading member of the local community’s activist group, stated to the crowd assembled that “these developments will result in a wide range of negative impacts on our local environment and the amenity of our homes. Although permission has been granted, we are not for quitting in our opposition to this industrialisation of our local environment. Please stay tuned as we explore some options to stop further destruction of our beautiful area.”
Daryl Kennedy, spokesperson for the community activist group, further emphasised to the assembled crowd, that “these developments are the direct result of flawed national energy policy.
"A recent study (Oct 2024) commissioned by Friends of the Earth, and conducted by Professor Hannah Daly of UCC Energy Department, shows that all renewable energy developed in Ireland over the past seven years has been consumed entirely by data centres i.e. no net reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity generation and usage for Irish homes and businesses.
"Data centres development in Ireland continues to proceed at a pace which is way beyond acceptable or sustainable and the end result for rural communities is the development of industrial Windfarms on our doorstep, which is little more than Greenwashing: looks as if we’re playing our part in the climate crisis but dig a little deeper and it’s all a charade.
"These developments of 35 enormous turbines will do little good for our climate action targets. We call on government to stop all further data centre development, target renewable energy development towards Irish homes and existing businesses, and move large renewable energy infrastructure like Windfarms, off-shore.
"The concerned communities of this area have suggested that these lands be rewilded to increase and protect their rich historical biodiversity; return the boglands to as close to their original state as possible; perhaps develop small areas for other renewable energies such as biomass. Despite our many many submissions with these points, we have never once seen a suggestion of a compromise by developers. That inspires us to keep going with our opposition.”