Around 250 residents gathered in the Raheen Woods Hotel, Athenry, last Thursday evening to hear the Athenry Peaker Plant Concern Group outline opposition to a proposed electricity generation facility expected to be submitted by Bord Gáis Energy later this month.
The meeting featured presentations from campaigners Ollie Freeney and Gearoid Harty, followed by a heated Q&A with local councillors and TDs. Concerns focused on air pollution, public health risks, and what residents described as a contradiction with Ireland’s climate goals.
“This is about genuine care and concern,” said Freeney. “This isn’t about being anti-development. It is not about being anti-infrastructure. We are very lucky regarding the town we live in and all that has been built here, but this [the proposed plant] is just out of character with that.”
Residents expressed alarm at the inclusion of a 30-metre emissions stack, questioning how air quality might be affected. Freeney added: “With the way this is looking, the stale air in your house might be better than the air outside.”
What is a peaker plant?
A peaker plant is a power station designed to generate electricity only during times of peak demand. They can start up quickly and stabilise the grid when renewable sources like wind and solar are insufficient. Typically fuelled by natural gas or oil, peaker plants run for short periods each year, though they are less efficient and more expensive to operate than baseload plants.
For campaigners, the Cashla project highlights a contradiction: “John over here isn’t allowed to pick turf. Mary over here isn’t allowed to have a chimney in her new house. But now in your backyard, there’s going to be a 30-metre-high chimney. And what’s going to be coming out of that chimney? That is the big question,” Freeney said.
Political responses
Senator Anne Rabbitte, who previously lost her seat as a Galway East TD during last year’s General Election, claimed her participation in a high-profile public meeting regarding the controversial proposed biogas plant in Portumna was the reason she lost her seat. While speaking to the crowd, Senator Rabbitte urged unity: “We cannot pick farmer against farmer, neighbour against neighbour. They are coming in and offering such savage money… We have to work together to ensure we are not the rust belt of Ireland, here in East Galway.”
Councillor Martin McNamara (SF ) directed frustration at government policy, “The government has auctioned you off like cattle to the highest bidder. It is government policy that has this at our door.”
TD Albert Dolan (FG ) pushed back: “Show me a document where the government said, Oh, we’ll put a peaker plant in Cashla. They didn’t. They said, We need energy. Who’s going to supply it with the right proposals? This is a proposal that’s coming forward. It’s going to go through the process, and we’ll deal with it.
“The Government wants energy, absolutely, and I am sure, no doubt if Sinn Féin was in Government, they would want energy as well, and I would love to see where ye would put it.”
Planning process
Because of its size, the plant will be considered a Strategic Infrastructure Development, meaning the application will bypass local planning and go directly to An Coimisiún Pleanála. Once submitted, residents will have eight weeks to make submissions. The application is expected before the end of September.
Bord Gáis Energy response
In a statement, Bord Gáis Energy described peaker plants as “a key piece of national strategic energy infrastructure in the transition to green energy.” It said the Cashla plant would provide backup during gaps in renewable generation, operating “for 100 hours or less per year” as determined by EirGrid.
The plant would use an Open Cycle Gas Turbine of up to 334MW, fuelled primarily by natural gas from an existing pipeline. Emissions would be regulated by the EPA and “within recognised, regulated safety guidelines.” The company added that continuous monitoring would be in place and results made public on the EPA website.
Bord Gáis stressed that the site was chosen for its proximity to both the national gas pipeline and the Cashla electricity substation. A full Environmental Impact Assessment Report, including chapters on air quality and cultural heritage, will accompany the planning application.
Responding to claims from the meeting that previous communications from Bord Gáis were aimed at a small select group within the community, the company said it had already appointed a community liaison officer and had held public information meetings in Athenry.
“We have distributed leaflets, hosted one-to-one briefings, hosted two public information meetings in the Raheen Woods Hotel and responded to individual queries. The public information meetings were publicised in local newspapers and in businesses around Athenry.
“We’re always available to discuss any elements of the project with residents and have a dedicated website with FAQs,” the statement said.
Bord Gáis also pointed to a newly launched community sponsorship fund for local groups, with a longer-term Community Benefit Fund planned if the project is approved.
For now, campaigners remain sceptical. As Freeney summed up, “This is not progress, it’s a step backwards.”
