Offaly County Council comes out in support of Lemanaghan residents
Cllr Leahy pleads with Bord na Móna to not be ‘tone deaf’
THE Councillors of Offaly County Council have come out in support of the residents of Lemanaghan in West Offaly. During Monday afternoon’s monthly meeting in Kilcormac Community Centre Councillor after Councillor said he or she was in strong support of the local residents’ opposition to a Bord na Móna SSE 15 turbine Wind Farm planned for the area.
The matter was discussed for an hour and a half by the Councillors during which James Condron of the Council Executive delivered a very thorough report by the Executive which recommended that An Coimisiún Pleanála not give planning permission to the developers for the controversial project.
Mr Condron said the Executive believes that at least 8 of the 15 mega turbines should be removed from the proposal.
Cllr John Leahy, Cathaoirleach, pleaded with Bord na Móna SSE Renewables to listen to the residents of the area and not come across as being tone deaf. He said the Councillors are often supportive of Bord na Móna but on this occasion they could not be.
Cllr Liam Quinn said the planning decision lies with An Coimisiún Pleanála and not with the County Council, “and I am fearful that no matter what we say in this Chamber today, An Coimisiún will pay no heed to us.”
The deadline for submissions about the development is 5.30pm on Monday May 25.
Cllr Fergus McDonnell pointed out that while the Executive is saying 8 turbines should be removed from the plan “it is important to stress what we are saying today in this chamber, namely that we don’t want a wind farm of any sort in that area.”
Cllr Hughie Egan said he lives in the area. “This area is of immense archaeological value. It’s of immense heritage value. Anyone with any sense wouldn’t put a wind farm there. This is a site of national importance and it means a great deal to the locals. I think putting a wind farm there would be archaeological vandalism of the highest order.”
Cllr Claire Murray, Fianna Fáil, said she has a concern about the noise impacts of wind turbines on residents in a number of different parts of Offaly.
Cllr Seán Maher pointed out that a lot of wind turbines have already gone up across Offaly. “We have put up more than our fair share, surpassing most other counties. What we want now is fairness and balance. A wind farm shouldn’t be built in Lemanaghan.” Cllr Aoife Masterson agreed. “Like Wood Quay in Dublin once the development starts it will destroy many things of great archaeological significance which can never be brought back again.”
Cllr Eleanor Clendennen said she supports renewable energy in Offaly “but we have done more than our fair share and this wind farm shouldn’t go ahead. It is in such a sensitive area.”
Cllr Seán O’Brien delivered a very detailed Addendum to the Executive’s report. Cllr Peter Ormond praised Cllr O’Brien for his very hard work on this Addendum. “I know that he has spent many hours working at this Addendum.”
"We concur very strongly with the Chief Executive’s submission,” remarked Cllr O’Brien, “which states, “It is important for the Commission to note that Offaly currently has 520MW of operational wind energy developments; 300 MW has been energised since 2024. A further 85 MW is permitted and awaiting construction. A further 247MW is currently in planning.”