Tommy Tiernan objects to €1.4bn offshore wind farm, saying giving go-ahead would be ‘irresponsible and disgusting’ 

One of the country’s best known entertainers, Tommy Tiernan is objecting to new plans for a €1.4bn wind farm comprising ’30 Eiffel Tower-sized turbines’ off the coast of Co Galway and Co Clare.

The TV chat-show host is one of 177 third parties to lodge submissions with An Bord Pleanála on the plan to construct the 450 MW wind-farm with 30 turbines more than 300 metres high in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Sceirde Rocks Offshore Wind Farm by Fuinneamh Sceirde ­Teoranta is to be located 5km to 11.5km off the west coast, with Carna in Galway the nearest settlement.

The planned first off-shore wind-farm is to [generate power equivalent to the average used by] 350,000 Irish homes, save an estimated 550,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, and contribute up to €70m in local community initiatives.

The wind-turbines are to reach a tip height of 325 metres, which is just short of the 330m Eiffel Tower in Paris.

In his objection, Tommy Tiernan writes: “I’m objecting to the proposed off-shore wind farm near Carna, Connemara, County Galway, on the grounds of desecration of that area of natural beauty.

“Culture is judged on how it protects areas and ideals such as this. Allowing such a project to go ahead when there are many more suitable sites either much further off-shore or inland would be a totally irresponsible and disgusting thing to do.”

“There has to be more to our country than a utilitarian exploitation of where we live.”

Independent Galway West TD Catherine Connolly told the appeals board “I have received numerous representations from a diverse range of people expressing their very serious concerns about the proposed development.”

Ms Connolly said that she supported the call for an oral hearing and highlighted the scale and number of wind turbines in her submission.

The Carna-based Conamara Coastal Protection community group has told the appeals board it has concerns over the impact on a person “looking out on a horizon of 30 Eiffel Tower sized turbines in the middle of an area of outstanding natural beauty”.

The objection states “that there is concern of a possible loss of value in property assets due to the industrialisation of this beautiful landscape”.

Mary Bates, of Carna and founder of MacDara Films Ltd, has told the appeals board that “the overwhelming size and height of the wind farm so close to the shoreline represents the largest destruction of an Irish coastline to date”.

In her objection, Paula Ni Chualain of Mainis, Carna, said: “These turbines will tower over us as they will be 5km from our home. The prospect of constant shadow flicker in our home which we planned to make the most of the sun and natural light is frightening.

“The silent and dark skies will be gone, replaced by 30 flashing red lights on the turbines and the noise pollution from the blades.”

The parents committee of Scoil Cholmain, Muighinis, state that parents chose the school for their children for its peaceful environment, stunning landscape and strong connection to nature.

They state that “the introduction of industrial scale wind-turbines directly outside the school threaten to severely undermine these benefits”

The Galway and Aran Fisherman’s Co-operative is also objecting, claiming that the proposed development and cable infrastructure “has the capacity to wreck productive fishing grounds and are a real threat to the sustainability of the stock of Nephrops (Norwegian Lobster)”.

The objection states that fishermen are now threatened with the loss of their legitimate business. Connemara Conservation CLG is also opposed and is represented by well known Dublin based environmental and planning lawyer Fred Logue, who says in a submission “the application should be refused by the board”.

Connemara Chamber of Commerce and Connemara Organic Seaweed have lodged submissions in support of the planned off-shore windfarm.

The applicant company is a joint venture between the Australian-based Macquarie Group and global infrastructure investor, the Ontario Teachers Pension Board.

On lodging the plans in January, stakeholder manager for Sceirde Rocks Windfarm Michael Cloherty said: “This planning application marks the culmination of around three years of surveying, data analysis and community engagement activity.

“We have worked closely with the local community to design a project which we believe will deliver on their needs and expectations and we are grateful to everyone who met with our team and engaged with us throughout this process.”

Project director of Sceirde Rocks Windfarm Paul Concannon said at the time: “Sceirde Rocks Windfarm has the potential to deliver enduring benefits to Ireland and to local communities in Galway – reducing Ireland’s carbon emissions, improving energy security, and stimulating vital investment in local skills, employment, infrastructure and business development.”

The board is due to make a decision on July 28.

[See also: Connemara offshore wind farm will not go ahead]