Group concerned about ‘increasing number’ of large scale windfarm projects proposed in Mayo

The group said their concerns relate to projects including 29 turbines at Glenora, 21 at Tyrawley (Lacken), 8 at Keerglen, potentially 22 at Clydagh and undetermined numbers at Carrowcullen and Carrowmacshane and the potential of over 100 wind turbines in an area that until very recently was on the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tentative List – the Ceide Fields and the Boglands of North and West Mayo,

The Mayo County Development plan was adopted in June 2022 and covers the period from 2022 to 2028. In terms of suitability for windfarms, there are three designations: 'Suitable', 'Unsuitable' and 'Open to Consideration'.

While the scenic areas of West Mayo such as Westport, Achill and Louisburgh, were designated as unsuitable for windfarms, areas of North Mayo were designated as 'Open to Consideration'.

The group believes that given the area's significance, they should have been designated as 'Unsuitable for Development'.

In a letter signed by group members Teresa Fagan and John Kelly, the group said, "We believe that this dramatic turnaround in the status and position of this location of outstanding natural beauty and unique, world-renowned archaeological heritage is a matter of public interest and public policy that needs to be investigated and properly explained.

"A Freedom of Information request by this group has established that Mayo County Council failed to respond to several correspondences from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage inviting the council to submit an application to have the Ceide Fields and the Boglands of North Mayo maintained on the UNESCO Tentative List.

"To date, no satisfactory explanation has been offered by Mayo County Council as to the reasons not to re-apply other than to claim there was a lack of local support.

"There is, however, no substantive evidence to support this contention or no evidence that the council took any meaningful, proactive steps to engage with the wider community to elicit or garner support."

The group said the removal of Ceide Fields from the UNESCO list has led to a number of applications and potential applications for windfarms in the area.

"If the Ceide Fields and surrounding boglands had retained UNESCO tentative status, there would have been no windfarm applications in the Ballycastle / Lacken area as they would have no prospect of success."

The group believes the potential cumulative impact of such a large number of windmills in the rural area could be 'potentially extremely damaging' to the environment, landscape, archaeology, and traditional rural way of life in this area.

They are also concerned about the health implications by way, of noise, shadow flicker and infrasound on those people living close to the turbines.

The group is concerned that the explosive growth of data centres in this country to meet the insatiable needs of 'Big Tech' companies, and their requirement for massive amounts of electricity is driving the headlong rush for windfarms in North Mayo and other areas.

"This area of north Mayo, which is now being heavily targeted for windfarms, has for many years been the subject of restrictive planning policy for residential housing.

"By granting planning permission to large windfarms while simultaneously refusing permission to local residents (usual on the visual amenity grounds) to build family homes is grossly unfair and unjust.

"This reflects the indifference of our politicians and planners to this area which has been neglected for years and is subject to depopulation and decline.

"It also represents a prioritizing of corporate interests to those of the preservation of our archaeological heritage, our precious landscape, our natural environment and our pristine coastal scenery."

The group is also concerned about the proliferation of windfarms in the area will lead to the degradation of the Ceide Fields, the world renowned neolithic site.

"It will also have a negative impact on Downpatrick Head with its panoramic natural scenery and rare geological features which is now a major signature point on the Wild Atlantic Way.

"Also negatively impacted will be the beaches and strands at Lacken and Kilcummin, the Lacken Salt Marsh and Kilcummin Head.

"These areas are of considerable ecological significance and this has been recognised in their designation status under the Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

"In relation to the proposed Lacken Wind farm, most of the turbines will be located in the areas draining into Lacken Salt Marsh and in an area with the finest example of the old Rundale system of farming which predates the Famine.

"The whole character of the open hill landscape of Lacken and Ballycastle will be severely compromised and its landscape dramatically altered in perpetuity.

"It is well recognised by archaeologists who were involved in previous excavations in this extensive area that underneath the peat in these rolling hills lies the Ceide Fields system of fields, dwelling areas and megalithic tombs which together make up the most extensive stone age monument in the world which is more than 6,000 years old.

"There has been no engagement from either Mayo County Council or the wind company developers with the communities and people whose ancestors have protected this unique heritage down through the ages."

Mayo County Council has been contacted for a response on the issue.