April 11, 2016
Northern Ireland

Local children win competition to name Derry’s new wind turbines

Monday 11th of April 2016 | www.derrynow.com

The wind turbines at Gaelectric’s new £16.8million Monnaboy windfarm on Loughermore Mountain in Co. Derry have officially been named by four local pupils from Eglinton Primary School and Something Special Academy.

The four Enercon wind turbines will now be called, ‘Butterfly’ (named by Marie Anderson, Something Special Academy); ‘Ladybird’ (named by Geraldine McStravick, Something Special Academy); ‘Glassakeein’ (named by Joan Moore, P7, Eglinton Primary School) and ‘Aeolus’ (named by Natalie Parkhill, P7, Eglinton Primary School).

Patrick McClughan, Head of Corporate Affairs for Gaelectric Developments Ltd, said they were delight the children and trainees have named the wind turbines.

He added: “These turbines are an important feature in the local community. Monnaboy windfarm will not only boost Northern Ireland’s renewable energy generation capacity by generating sufficient renewable power to meet the electricity demand of over 7,400 homes, but it will also create jobs, support workforce skills and contribute to economic activity in the area.

“The names of the turbines reflect a range of inspirations from nature right through to mythology. I would like to thank the students, trainees and teachers at Something Special Academy and Eglinton Primary School for their wholehearted involvement in the competition.”

Natalie Parkhill, a P7 pupil at Eglinton Primary School, who named the Aeolus wind turbine, explained where she got her inspiration:

“I was very excited by the chance to choose a name for one of the new turbines at Monnaboy! Before we went to visit the site of the windmills, we received and read a book from Gaelectric about the travels of a turbine around Northern Ireland including the Giants Causeway.

“The mythology behind the story of the Giant’s Causeway got me wondering who the god of wind was and so, I went online and when I saw the name Aeolus, I thought it was just perfect!”

Denise White, Director, Something Special Academy, Eglinton, said the competition had provided trainees with an opportunity to explore the area of renewable energy with students and trainees.

She added: “They enjoyed the experience of seeing the turbines up close and participating in the competition. It is important that we all appreciate the impact that we have on the environment.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/04/11/local-children-win-competition-to-name-derrys-new-wind-turbines/