Shock as Carrig Wind Farm gets go-ahead despite huge local objection

A SEVEN turbine wind farm near Carrig has been given the go-ahead by An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly known as An Bord Pleanála) despite a huge level of local opposition.
This Wind Farm, overseen by Carrig Renewable Energy Limited, caused much controversy in the area when proposed in 2023 and Tipperary County Council received 39 objections from locals. The Council, on the back of this, decided to deny planning permission and the company appealed to An Bord Pleanála, which last week said it had decided to overturn the Council's decision, a move which has caused much shock and outrage in the area.
Carrig Renewable Energy will now construct its seven turbines, with a blade tip height of 179.5 to 185 metres, on a 78.91 hectare site spanning a number of townlands to the west of Carrig, about seven or eight kilometres from Birr. The construction will take 12-18 months, and the farm will run for 35 years.
When Tipperary County Council refused permission in November 2023 it said it was because the site was unsuitable for a wind energy development, the development would have a negative impact on bird species in the area, and the company had not proved that the development would not have a detrimental impact on the roads in the area.
The 39 objections that were received can be viewed on the Tipperary County Council website. They are excellent submissions, some of them of a considerable length. In them, people voiced concerns about their turbary rights, the devaluation of their properties, a lack of consultation with local landowners about the development, and the impact it would have on tourism in the area.
Carrig Renewable Energy appealed the local authority’s refusal on the grounds that the proposed wind farm is strongly supported by the national policy on wind energy, and that it is government policy to rapidly increase the roll-out of renewable energy to help Ireland reach its climate targets.
An Coimisiún Pleanála said it was overturning the Council's decision for a number of reasons, including the government document called “Planning for a Climate Resilient Ireland 2024” and “the relevant approved sectoral adaptation plans as they relate to Biodiversity and Energy and in furtherance of the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change in the State.” An Coimisiún said that when making its decision it was keeping in mind the National Planning Framework 2018 to 2040 and the National Development Plan 2021 to 2030.
An Coimisiún said it came to its decision because the Wind Farm will have “a significant positive impact on climate due to the displacing of fossil fuel energy generation and the associated displacement of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions. Over the proposed 35-year lifetime of the development, significant levels of carbon dioxide will be displaced from traditional carbon-based electricity generation, which is a significant positive, long-term impact on climate due to its contribution to renewable energy targets and the reduction of GHG (Greenhouse gas) emissions.”
An Coimisiún does admit however that the introduction of the wind farm at this location “will result in local level impacts for the local population of whooper swans and the ornithological ecological value of the site.”
An Coimisiún also admitted that the “proposed development can be considered as being a material contravention of the Tipperary County Development Plan 2022-2028.” However, it said it's contravening the Plan because it, An Coimisiún, is strongly influenced by the necessity to achieve "Europe and Ireland's legally binding renewable energy targets including the 9 GW (Gigawatt) onshore wind target and achieving 80% of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030.” Meeting this target requires significant expansion of onshore wind capacity, as Ireland had 4.74 GW installed at the end of 2023.
An Coimisiún attached 28 conditions to its overruling. These conditions include that the grant of permission not be construed as an agreement to connect the wind farm to the national grid, that the permission shall last for 35 years only, and that after this period, the land be returned to its previous state, and that Carrig Renewable Energy appoint a community liaison officer to be the first point of contact for residents of the affected areas who have issues or concerns about the development. An Coimisiún said a biodiversity maintenance plan should also be implemented and strict noise restrictions should be adhered to at all times.
A spokesperson for Birr Castle said the Castle is very concerned about the development. “We think this will have an adverse visual impact on the Castle Demesne and on the town itself. The turbines will dominate the landscape in a visually negative way. We are also worried about the cabling which will be going from the Wind Farm to a substation near Birr, in the townland of Clondallow between Birr and Banagher. We are worried about the effect the cabling road works will have on the castle walls when the works are being carried out. We are also worried about the effect the wind turbines might have on the Radio Telescope in the Demesne. This is a very important telescope, part of a European project, and it is possible that the turbines will have a negative effect on the Telescope's readings. Birr Castle Demesne is not against wind turbines but An Coimisiún Pleanála hasn't given due consideration to the negative visual impact this will have on Birr.”
One of the 39 objections submitted in 2023 spoke of “the indisputable damage that this 'green energy' will do to the actual green landscape and wildlife that belongs to the area. Windmills cause a huge threat to birds, bats and insects. This area is a migratory path for many species of birds including whooper swans from Iceland.”
Another objector said his family has been cutting turf in the area for decades. “My grandfather cut turf here in the 1950s,” he said, adding that he's worried that “Wind Turbine Number 3” will take over his turbary rights.
Another man said the Wind Farm will “despoil an area of natural beauty” and he's worried about the effect on his property. He pointed out that one of the turbines will be built right beside the Holy Well on his property.
Another person pointed out that the development “contravenes the Tipperary County Development Plan 2022-2028 because it contravenes the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.” He pointed out that in the area there's a “confluence of water on which many species of wildlife congregate, the principal species being ducks and whooper swans.”
A number of objectors said the noise level of the turbines upon those living in the immediate area is also a major concern. Others were concerned about Shadow Flicker and Infrasound. One woman said she was concerned about the effect of Shadow Flicker and Infrasound on her horses.
A man was worried about water quality. “Water in the area is of a poor quality,” he wrote, “with large amounts of iron and lime present. I'm very worried that any development work will further decrease the water quality, with other chemicals possibly infiltrating our water supply.”
A couple were worried that “a substantial noise will be heard from our house,” and were concerned about a depreciation in the quality of their lives. “We have spent 15 years building our lives here, in a tranquil setting.”
One person said the planning application had made no mention, had not considered, the possible impact of the turbines on I-LOFAR (the radio telescope in Birr Castle), “which is a sensitive receptor of international significance vulnerable to interference from wind turbines.”
Professor Peter Gallagher of I-LOFAR told the Tribune this week that “We are concerned about the Carrig Wind Farm as the turbines might interfere with I-LOFAR by adding noise to our data and therefore will make radio astronomy challenging from Birr. We were not aware of the development and were not consulted.”
Professor Gallagher said I-LOFAR made a submission a few years ago to the Offaly County Development Plan, which outlined “why we are concerned and would rather that wind turbines are at least 5 km from Birr and use a particular turbine make and model that has been tested in the Netherlands.”

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