Residents from the Bellair area of Ballycumber: Shane Monaghan, Brian Doherty, Emer Doherty and Patricia Egan are united in their opposition to the plans for a proposed new wind farm for the Midlands which is to be developed on a Bord na Móna landbank on Bellair Bog.

Opposition to plans for latest Offaly wind farm in Ballycumber

Geraldine Grennan

Published: Mon 9 Jun 2025, 10:48 AM

Last updated: Mon 9 Jun 2025, 12:22 PM

Plans for the development of a wind farm on a Bord na Móna landbank across Bellair Bog in north west Offaly have met with opposition from communities living on both sides of the Offaly/Westmeath border.

In advance of a series of community engagement events organised by Bord na Móna and SSE Renewables later this month to outline their proposals for Bellair Wind Farm, as group called the 'No to Bellair Wind Farm Community' has called a community meeting in Moate this week to discuss the project and plan the road ahead.

The meeting, which takes place on Wednesday night in the Grand Hotel in Moate at 8pm, has been called by the group opposing the plans for Bellair Wind Farm. The group has expressed serious concerns about the long-term environmental, health, and social impact of the project.

Although the project in Ballycumber is still at an early consultation stage, communities living near the proposed site believe the development is being fast-tracked without adequate regard for the cumulative impact on rural life, health, and the natural landscape.

“We are not against renewable energy, but this development is in the wrong place and at the wrong scale,” said a spokesperson for the group. “Our homes, our wellbeing, and our countryside are not collateral for poorly sited industrial wind infrastructure with no long-term vision.”

Key reasons for opposition which have been outlined by the new lobby group include:

● Noise pollution and sleep disturbance: The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends noise levels from wind turbines should not exceed 45 dB Lden to protect human health. Many wind farms, including this one, risk breaching these limits, especially at night.

● Environmental and landscape degradation: The project risks damaging sensitive habitats, scenic views, and local biodiversity.

● Failure to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals: The development undermines several SDGs, particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and Goal 15 (Life on Land), by prioritising commercial energy production over community and ecological wellbeing.

● Inadequate community consultation: Locals feel the process is being driven top-down, without meaningful local input.

The 'No to Bellair Wind Farm Community' has said Wednesday night's meeting in|Moate is an opportunity for anyone concerned about the Bellair Wind Farm to get informed, ask questions, and get involved in protecting their local environment and communities.

Three locations, Ballycumber, Ballinahown and Moate, have been earmarked for in-person community engagement sessions on the Bellair Wind Farm project, with the first one due to take place in Ballycumber GAA Club on Tuesday, June 17 next.

This will be followed by a community engagement session in Ballinahown Community Hall on Wednesday, June 18, while the third session as part of the intial phase of of the project, will take place on Tuesday, June 24. All sessions will take place between 5pm and 8.30pm.

Another proposed windfarm in Offaly, the Lemanaghan Wind Farm, has met with significant opposition from locals concerned over its impact on the heritage of the area, which is strongly associated with St Manchan.