Windfarm near historic Mayo site is given go-ahead
Ceide Fields, overlooking the ocean near Ballycastle, contains the oldest stone walled fields in the world.
Mayo Co Council has given the go-ahead for a windfarm in North Mayo despite local concerns.
The proposal by ABO Energy Ireland Limited for the Keerglen Wind Farm will see eight turbines put in place in the townlands of Keerglen, Ballykinlettragh and Ballinglen, outside Ballycastle. A number of local objections to the project were submitted. These included a detailed submission from the Lacken Ballycastle Landscape Protection Group, which cited environmental and archaeological concerns.
The unique archaeology under the peatlands of North Mayo and made famous through the Céide Fields is located at Ballykinlettragh and just north of Keerglen River across from turbine eight. Those are the areas only that have been surveyed by archaeologists using the techniques devised at Céide. The area needs further surveys.
“It is the wish and expectation of the local communities that the Céide fields complex, which includes the undisturbed hills of North Mayo, receive UNESCO World Heritage status and Mayo County Council must do all in its power to ensure proper engagement with the relevant communities to achieve this and protect the natural heritage and monuments in the area in keeping with EU guidelines should this project go ahead,” the group said.
Concern was also expressed about the potential impact on fish, otters, eels, birds and bats.
“The operation of wind turbines would present a continued high-risk threat to the existence of all those breeds over the lifespan of the wind farm, which would be 30 years. This is unacceptable,” the submission added.
The application is a 10-year planning permission, with a 30-year operational lifespan from the date of the commissioning of the wind farm. A community benefit fund is part of the overall project.
Planning was granted subject to 22 conditions.
“Having regard to national policy with regard to renewable energy, the policies and objectives of the Mayo County Development Plan 2022-2028, the Renewable Energy Strategy for County Mayo 2011-2020, and the nature and scale of the development, it is considered that the proposed development would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” concluded council planners.
