Wind farm plan would ‘violate’ a sacred space

A controversial proposed windfarm "should not be considered" by An Coimisiún Pleanála for Lemanaghan Bog, Offaly councillors have unanimously said.

Elected representatives at the May monthly meeting of Offaly County Council on Monday voiced their disapproval for the contentious wind farm which has been proposed for Lemanaghan Bog.

Lemanaghan Wind Farm Designated Activity Company, a 50:50 joint venture between Bord na Móna and SSE Renewables, is seeking planning permission from An Coimisiún Pleanála for a project which will see the construction of 15 wind turbines with a total tip height of 220 metres.

There has been significant opposition to the proposal, led by the Lemanaghan Bog Heritage and Conservation Group, which staged a number of protests outside public information clinics on the project over the past year.

Such a stance was reinforced by the elected members in Kilcormac following a report from the Offaly County Council Chief Executive Eoghan Ryan on the proposed strategic infrastructure development which was delivered by Senior Executive Planner James Condron.

The report, the official response of the council executive, called for a "reappraisal of the site" and a "reduction in scale" of the wind farm should An Coimisiún Pleanála grant planning permission for the proposed development.

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This"reduction in scale", the report outlined, should include the "omission of eight turbines" with a "revised site layout" submitted as part of any subsequent proposal, allowing for the "site's sensitivities".

If approved, the proposed wind farm would have a generating capacity of 90MW, with the developers stating it would produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of up to 65,700 homes annually, while displacing more than 56,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

The renewable energy development is proposed for the West Offaly townlands of Cooldorragh, Kilnagarnagh, Cappanalosset, Tumbeagh, Killaghintober, Castlearmstrong, Leabeg, Cornafurrish and Corrabeg, Lemanaghan, Kilnagoolny, Straduff, Lisdermot, Derrica More, Rosfaraghan, Rashinagh, Cor More and Cor Beg, Corbane and Ballindown.

As part of the planning application permission is being sought for turbine foundations and underground electrical and communications cabling connecting the turbines to a new 220kV electrical substation, while a permanent telecommunications tower with a height of 36 metres, as well as a meteorological mast with a height of 145 metres, have also been detailed in the application.

As the project is deemed to be strategic infrastructure development, the application has bypassed the local planning authority for deliberation by An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Legislation requires the local authority to submit an official report as part of the planning board’s deliberations. In response to the Chief Executive report, the elected members proposed that an addendum (an item of additional material) be placed on record with An Coimisiún Pleanála in relation to the Lemanaghan wind farm application, reflecting their views.

The contents of the addendum was read to the meeting by Cllr Sean O'Brien who highlighted the numerous sensitivities with the proposed development site, stressing, the views of his fellow members that it "should not be considered" for wind energy development.

Cllr O'Brien said the people living in the area have a strong attachment to the traditions and history of St Manchan.

"The relationship between the Saint, the place and the people is witnessed by their attachment to St Manchan’s Shrine and the work they have carried out over many decades to maintain and improve access to the local sites and artefacts associated with St Manchan," Cllr O'Brien said.

The councillor stated that people visit the site all year round to enjoy its "serene and tranquil atmosphere".

Cllr O'Brien referenced the Irish Heritage Council's conservation plan for Lemanaghan which was published in 2007. A summary of its findings found that Lemanaghan was a "sacred place of great antiquity", a place of architectural significance, "a place rich in archaeological potential and "a place apart, possessing a strong sense of being untouched by the modern world".

Stating that archaeological remains in Lemanaghan Bog date back over 5,000 years, Cllr O'Brien said plans for a wind farm on the site would "destroy all the unique history that it holds".

"The proposal to construct a wind farm on Leamanaghan Bog will significantly violate this special sacred location and permanently alter the whole essence of the area," Cllr O'Brien added.

The councillor commended the work being undertaken by the Lemanaghan Bog Heritage and Conservation Group and "their concern that the construction of the wind farm will erode the significant archaeological, historical, environmental and biodiversity features of the area".

Cllr O'Brien reiterated the local authority's commitment to wind energy developments.

"Our county has contributed significantly towards achieving the country’s wind energy targets and we support the policy of continuing to do so over the coming years.

"Offaly currently has 520MW of operational wind energy developments, of which 300MW has been energised since 2024. A further 85MW is permitted and awaiting construction imminently, while an additional 247MW is currently in the planning system (including the current application). This represents nine percent of the entire country’s Climate Action Plan wind energy target of 9,000MW.

"This clearly demonstrates the commitment of our council to achieve and even surpass the Government objectives in relation to wind generated energy. Any objections to the current application or amendments being sought are thus well founded and serve to achieve a reasonable balance," Cllr O'Brien stated.

Cllr Hugh Egan said the proposed development should never have been "forced on the Lemanaghan community".

"This is a site from which artefacts of national significance have been recovered, practically unequalled. These artefacts highlight the rise and fall of monastic settlements and if this development is approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála it will be archaeological vandalism of the highest order. There is no way there should be a wind farm in Lemanaghan," Cllr Egan said.

Cllr Aoife Masterson lauded the Lemanaghan Bog Heritage and Conservation Group for "standing up" to the proposed development in their community, stating that historians "would kill" for what we have archaeologically in our county.

"We should be developing a historic tourist trail in our county not selling out to the highest bidder. Artefacts are still being recovered in our boglands and we can't allow this project to go ahead. We can't risk our history for a short-sighted wind farm," she added.

Fine Gael Cllr Liam Quinn expressed his hope that the council's resolution would "carry some weight" with An Coimisiún Pleanála.

"However, previous experience with the national planning board makes me more wary than hopeful," Cllr Quinn said.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Claire Murray expressed her concern about noise impacts from the turbines on residents in close proximity to the proposed development.

Council Cathaoirleach Cllr John Leahy called on the energy company to "sit back" and "reflect" on the proposed development.

"We have seldom stood in their way but on this occasion we are putting our foot down and I hope that they respect the views of the members and the Lemanaghan community," Cllr Leahy said.

Previously, there were over 2,000 submissions made to the local authority calling for the removal of the zoning of Lemanaghan Bog as an area open to consideration for wind energy during the preparation of the latest Offaly County Development Plan.

The planning application was lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála on March 27 with a decision expected on the case by March 25, 2027.