The proposed development of two wind farms in County Galway sparked strong concern among councillors at this week’s plenary meeting, with members warning that the projects could prove deeply divisive for rural communities.
The proposals involve the construction of two “wind energy developments and all associated works” across sites spanning the municipal districts of Tuam and Ballinasloe. One development is proposed across the parishes of Moylough and Killererin, encompassing the townlands of Cloondahamper, Cloonascragh, Elmhill, Cooloo, Lecarrow, Dangan Eighter, Lissavally and Slievegorm. The second site is located to the north-east of Tuam town, covering the townlands of Cloonbar, Cloonweelaun, Cloonnaglasha, Cloonteen, Corillaun, Derrymore, Ironpool, Shancloon, Toberroe and Tonacooleen.
Both Tuam and Ballinasloe Municipal Districts have called meetings to discuss the proposed developments, with councillors expressing fears that the projects could divide communities, leaving residents to deal with the impacts while developers benefit from afar.
Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Connolly, who is from Moylough, said the proposals highlighted the potential for serious division locally. “These developments have the potential to divide communities,” he said.
“In some instances, the property owners who have signed up to this don’t live in the general area. The bulk of one of these developments is in my area and my own electoral area, close enough to where I am from.”
Cllr Connolly said that while he generally does “not have a problem” with strategic infrastructure developments, he was concerned about the lack of transparency for local elected members.
“We learn about them through the media before councillors are consulted, and the companies that were involved in some of these are in Belgium.
“During Covid, a lot of these companies met with people, and preliminary works and arrangements have been made before most of the community, or indeed local councillors, were informed.”
He added that he and Fine Gael councillor Peter Keaveney had previously worked together on issues relating to sites in the Tuam electoral area and that he had made a submission in relation to the Moylough proposal.
“Three of the eight proposed turbines, number six, seven and eight are in locations that are considered generally to be discouraged.”
Tea and sympathies from Government
Independent Ireland councillor Shaun Cunniffe said communities were being left exposed, particularly following the Government’s decision to delay the publication of updated wind farm regulations for another year.
“A big disappointment was the delay in the regulations of these developments, so once again these communities are left defenceless in front of these huge European organisations,” he said.
“What chance do these communities have, when they just get tea and sympathy from the Government and TDs and anyone else. We have no support, we have been left on our own and it is an absolute disgrace.”
Fianna Fáil councillor Mary Hoade read a submission on behalf of Tuam Municipal District councillors, outlining concerns about the scale of the proposed 11 turbines, impacts on the built environment, road infrastructure, water sources and peatlands.
“These are strong rural communities and as such a development, if granted, could significantly reduce the ability for new rural housing and protection of the rural population and its future expansion,” she said.
The submission also noted that while 94 submissions were listed on An Coimisiún Pleanála’s website, councillors believed many more had yet to appear. “We request that ACP immediately investigate the issue and report back,” Cllr Hoade said.
Ballinasloe Cathaoirleach Cllr Peter Keaveney said the proposals were unlike anything he had seen before. “I have never seen anything as divisive in our communities as these windfarms,” he said, adding that they risked becoming “a scourge on our landscape”.
Councillors in Ballinasloe echoed the same concerns raised by Tuam members with their own submission read out by Cathaoirleach for Ballinasloe MD, Cllr Keaveney, while Cllr Tómas Grealish also raised issues around the proposed expansion of Shessy Solar Farm.
“Young farmers are being approached as far as Derrydonnell, regarding their land,” he said.
Responding, Galway County Council director of services Liam Hanrahan reminded councillors that the final decision does not rest with the local authority.
“It is the decision of An Bord Pleanála, not Galway County Council, whether these developments are approved,” he said.
