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Wind Power News: Ireland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission 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. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Man who suffered noise nuisance from Wexford wind farm seeks €1m damages for a new home
A man who claims he had to leave his four-bedroom home in Co Wexford after wind turbine noise led to his mental health and relationship breaking down has asked the High Court to award him about €1 million damages to buy or build a similar home. Keith Rollo has spent €42,900 on rental accommodation since leaving his former home at Ballyduff, jointly owned with his ex-partner Margaret Webster, about four years ago, Ms Justice Emily Egan heard. The judge on . . . Complete story »
Locals say NO to proposed bog wind farm near Ballycumber
Residents from across Offaly and Westmeath are coming together this week in opposition to the proposed Bellair Wind Farm, which will be located on a Bord na Móna landbank across Bellair Bog, near Ballycumber. Speaking to the Tribune, the locals cited serious concerns about the long-term environmental, health, and social impact of the project. The wind farm, being advanced by Bord na Móna and SSE Airtricity, is currently in its early consultation stage; however, locals told the Tribune that they . . . Complete story »
High Court orders total shutdown of three wind turbines in Wexford due to noise nuisance
The high court has ordered that three wind turbines in Co Wexford be totally shut down due to noise nuisance. It’s understood to be the first time that a court in Ireland has ordered the total shutdown of a wind turbine. Raymond Byrne and Lorna Moorhead live around a kilometre from the nearest turbine of the six-turbine Gibbet Hill Wind Farm near Bunclody in Co Wexford. Four of the turbines are near the summit of Gibbet Hill, with two located . . . Complete story »
Public meeting June 4 of Longford residents opposed to Derryadd Wind Farm development
The organisers said they decided to arrange the meeting on Wednesday, June 4 at 8.30pm after Bord na Móna reapplied for planning permission. “We are calling a meeting for all community members to attend for an update on the new application,” a leaflet outlined. Some local residents are concerned about the planning application with claims it will have a ‘detrimental impact’ on wildlife, biodiversity and peatland drainage. Bord na Móna Powergen Limited recently submitted a planning application to An Bord . . . Complete story »
High Court orders turbine to shut down at certain windspeeds overnight due to sleep disturbance
The High Court has ordered that a wind turbine in Co Wexford be shut down at night for certain windspeeds due to its potential to disturb sleep. The turbine will also have to operate on a lower mode during quiet waking hours at certain windspeeds. Last year, the High Court ruled that one of two wind turbines at Ballyduff Windfarm at Kilcomb, near Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, amounted to an “unreasonable interference” with the enjoyment of two couples’ properties. This action . . . Complete story »
Cork says no to eight new wind turbines
Cork County Council has refused to grant permission for eight new wind turbines near Dunmanway, Co Cork. Cork County Council gave two reasons for refusing the multimillion-euro wind farm. Firstly, it stated that the proposed wind farm development would be located in an elevated, exposed, and open unspoilt landscape. The development would lead to the removal of wet heath, blanket bog, and wet heath mosaic, all of which are considered habitats of special conservation significance. Given the extent of peatland . . . Complete story »
Wexford wind farm given 20-year extension despite noise complaints
Wexford County Council has recently granted a 20-year extension to Castledockrell Wind Farm, including the continued use of 11 existing turbines, despite a neighbouring couple’s objection. Catherine and Philip Hickey have actively campaigned against the development for years, submitting complaints to local authority, engaging with the media, and even speaking at Leinster House. In their letter to the local authority, they detailed that it was not just their family affected, but claim that the entire neighbourhood had been under siege . . . Complete story »
Derrybrien wind farm seeks to pack up, leaving 70 turbine foundations behind
The taking down of controversial Derrybrien wind farm comes at the end of more than 20 years of legal wrangling. Its removal from a Co Galway mountain will leave behind more than bad memories, though, as the foundations for its 70 turbines are to remain in the ground. Gort Windfarms, the ESB subsidiary that owns the facility, recently held pre-application consultations with An Bord Pleanála to tease out preliminary issues before lodging a planning application for the required works. It . . . Complete story »
Laois and Kilkenny residents protest against ‘off-shore’ size wind turbines
Laois and Kilkenny residents have united in another protest against a wind farm in the Ballyouskill area with people in Ballinakill claiming multiple negative impacts from what they claim too big for the scenic inland location. Communities from both counties gathered in a ‘Drive to Survive’ Car run protest on roads around the boundary between the two counties where the 12-turbine farm is planned by Eco Power Developments. An Bord Pleanála is considering the plan for the project on the . . . Complete story »
Noise complaints about wind farms in Limerick revealed
Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey was told that the Council has investigated noise complaints regarding five wind farms in County Limerick since 2008. The local authority explained at the April Adare-Rathkeale area meeting that it assesses wind turbine noise levels against relevant conditions granted under planning, best practice, and guidance where available. Where wind farm noise is considered to be unsatisfactory, the Council stated that it has a variety of enforcement actions it can take under the Planning and Development . . . Complete story »
