Wind farms in Connemara
The Irish Times | www.irishtimes.com
A chara, – There has been huge wind farm development in Connemara. This provides a very considerable input of green energy to the national grid. However, there has been a cost. Many have seen their areas transformed. Flicker and noise impinge on the daily life of those unlucky people who live nearby. The skyline is dominated by these huge steel structures. Beautiful unspoilt areas have been changed, probably forever.
Yet Connemara remains a beautiful and special place. The destruction of landscapes has been limited. Its wildness and beauty still attract thousands every year from Ireland and abroad.
Wind farms in the Connemara region have reached saturation point. However, developers continue to descend on the area bringing with them the stress, division and frustration that accompany these projects.
Currently developers are seeking permission to construct a giant turbine in Indreabhán. This structure, higher than the Spire in Dublin, would loom over the many houses nearby. It would dominate the skyline for miles around. Furthermore, Galway County Council is now seeking to zone many new areas in Indreabhán as “suitable for wind farm development”.
The logical conclusion is that within a few years another large area of Connemara will be covered with wind turbines. It is outrageous that these projects are being pushed through during Covid when communities cannot organise meetings to protect their areas.
Planners and politicians are under huge pressure to fulfil Ireland’s need to replace energy produced by fossil fuels.
However, it cannot be at the expense of the Irish landscape which is such an important feature of our country, our culture and identity.
Connemara has enough wind turbines. It is contributing more than its share.
No further planning permission or zoning for wind farms should be granted.
– Mise, le meas,
BREANDÁN Ó MATHÚNA,
Indreabhán,
Co na Gaillimhe.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2021/07/10/wind-farms-in-connemara/