February 17, 2015
Ireland

Simply Red star ‘totally against’ wind farm

By Paddy Clancy | Irish Examiner | February 17, 2015 | www.irishexaminer.com

Simply Red star Mick Hucknall has backed opposition by locals to plans for Ireland’s largest onshore wind farm in Donegal.

The singer and the band’s saxophone player, Chris De Margary, sent a message to a 150-strong meeting pledging their support for opposition to plans for the farm with up to 49 giant turbines, some with a height of more than 152m.

The pair apologised for being unable to attend a meeting four nights ago at Meenreagh rural community centre near Killygordon, Co Donegal.

But they promised they are “totally against” the development planned to extend along 15km from Barnesmore Gap to Castlefin.

They have plunged over €1.3m into the Glenmore Estate with shooting and fishing rights outside Ballybofey. Sources close to them say they are concerned that the windfarm may affect their business on the estate.

They told the community they are fully behind the campaign to block the windfarm.

Plans for the windfarm were formally lodged with An Bord Pleanála last week by Cork-based Clanree. The final date for submissions and objections to be lodged with the board is March 27.

A local committee, Finn Valley Against Turbines, has been established to lodge objections to An Bord Pleanála.

A year ago, Hucknall and De Margary settled a dispute over sporting rights linked to their Glenmore lodge where they run the Glenmore Rivers Sporting Estate.

The terms of the agreement before Letterkenny Circuit Court were confidential.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/02/17/simply-red-star-totally-against-wind-farm/