Wind Power News: Ireland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Dromahair community fights back against proposed giant wind turbines
Ahead of an expected planning application from Coillte for the erection of 10 giant wind turbines on Corry Mountain on the outskirts of Dromahair, a public meeting was held last Thursday night in order to outline the various concerns surrounding the proposed development. There was standing room only in The Clubhouse for the meeting which heard from a number of experts in a variety of fields while the meeting was also attended by local representatives and concerned members of the . . . Complete story »
New wind farm gets approval in Laois after appeal
A new industrial windfarm in Laois to supply renewable energy to the national grid has been given the green light by An Bórd Pleanála. Pinewood windfarm is to have 11 turbines, 136.5 metres tall spread between Coillte owned forest and private farmlands, near Spink and Ballinakill. It is part of a larger windfarm over the Kilkenny border. Pinewood Wind Limited is the applicant care of Galetech Energy based in Cavan. The company first applied for eight turbines of 152metres in . . . Complete story »
Local representatives promise their support in bid to halt development of giant wind turbines near Dromahair
“I came here to learn and I certainly have learned,” said Deputy Eamon Scanlon when he addressed the public meeting on wind turbines in Dromahair last Thursday. Deputy Scanlon added: “I’m not an expert on wind energy, far from it. I always believed there was a place for wind energy, I saw the monstrosity outside (model wind turbine), I don’t think there is any place for that.” The Sligo/Leitrim TD added: “It is very hard to see how it would . . . Complete story »
Councillors warned executive will leave if delegation proceeds
A difference of opinion between councillors and the Council executive which occurred at last July’s meeting of the local authority got a further airing at last Monday’s meeting. At the July meeting Cllr Mary Bohan called for a delegation of concerned residents to address the September meeting about the proposed development of 10 giant 168 metre turbines in the wider Dromahair area. She told the executive she was going to take legal advice after being told that the acceptance of . . . Complete story »
Public meeting is the start of Dromahair community’s fightback against giant wind turbines
Two prominent experts will address a public meeting on Thursday, September 12 in The Clubhouse, Dromahair at 7pm to discuss the proposed Croagh windfarm. Professor Alun Evans, a public health specialist at Queens’ University Belfast will address the meeting on the health hazards from turbines. The meeting will also hear from Dr Paula Byrne, coordinator Wind Aware Ireland, along with representatives from groups campaigning against wind farms and experts on the environmental impact and alternative energy sources. Organisers are urging . . . Complete story »
High Court dismisses action taken by councillor secretly filmed by RTÉ in ethics investigation
A county councillor has lost his High Court bid aimed at preventing an ethics inquiry being conducted over comments he made while being secretly filmed by RTÉ’s Primetime Programme. The action was brought by Monaghan County Councillor Hugh McElvaney, who is the subject of Standards in Public Office (SiPO) Commission investigation into whether he breached ethics when he was one of the subjects of an RTÉ Investigates programme Standard in Public Office, aired in 2015. In it, an undercover researcher, . . . Complete story »
Local communities unite against proposed giant wind turbines planned for Dromahair area
Ahead of an expected planning permission application from Coillte to erect 10 wind turbines that are 168 metres high, the communities of Dromahair, Beagh, Ardvoley, Kilavoggy, Tullynascreena and Garvagh have come together to voice their objection to the proposal. Local residents, who already have a number of smaller wind turbines for company in close proximity to their homes feel if planning permission is granted for the proposed development life would be unbearable in what should be the sanctuary of their . . . Complete story »
‘People’s lives and their dreams are being wrecked by wind farms’
There are only four other developments in the country with wind turbines standing at this height and I feel that our community is a test case for what is going to happen in the future; they could start replacing small turbines with these much larger structures. These were the sentiments expressed by Adrienne Diamond – an artist who lives with her partner Graham Robertson in Killavoggy outside Dromahair in Co. Leitrim – after Coillte confirmed that it plans to develop . . . Complete story »
‘How is wind energy supposedly saving on carbon? It’s all a big con…’
Plans by Coillte to erect a 10-turbine wind farm across Sligo / north Leitrim have been met with opposition by residents on Corry Mountain outside Dromahair – many of whom are already living in close proximity to two small privately owned developments. The earmarked location is a picturesque, idyllic setting in mountainous terrain overlooking Leitrim and Sligo that up to now has managed to remain relatively unspoilt. In a statement to AgriLand, Coillte confirmed that it will seek planning permission . . . Complete story »
‘This area in north Leitrim is not suitable for a wind farm’
People in this area don’t believe there has been a real, sincere, genuine consultation process. For me as a local area representative it would be imperative that a proper consultation process is carried out. These were the sentiments expressed by north Leitrim’s Sinn Féin councillor Padraig Fallon this week after residents in the Corry Mountain expressed their concerns over the planned development – by Coillte – of a wind farm. The semi-state body plans to apply to both Leitrim and . . . Complete story »
