Plans for reduced wind farm overlooking iconic Cork beauty spot

Details of a new proposal for a reduced wind farm on a site overlooking Gougane Barra, one of Cork’s most visited tourism destinations, have been revealed at an information evening in the nearby Gaeltacht village of Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh.

The wind farm, comprising three 169m high turbines, is proposed to be located on a site at Curraglass by Wingleaf Ltd, a company whose directors are Michael and David Murnane.

The company had previously attempted to get planning permision on the same site for a windfarm of seven turbines measuring 178.5m from base to the highest point, but this was refused by Cork County Council before being successfully appealed to An Bórd Pleanála.

Review

A local community organisation, Coiste Forbartha Bhéal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh, successfully sought a judicial review on the grounds of ‘visual amenity concerns’ given the site’s attraction for visitors. The application went back to ABP and was eventually refused on these grounds in May, 2024.

“Our consultants are working on preparing a planning application,” said James Crowley, the project’s community liaison officer in advance of the community information meeting this week.

Details about the project were uploaded to the website, www.curraglassinfo.com, on the same day with the aim of informing the local community about the proposal.

As well as the reduced number of turbines, down from seven to three, and their reduced height, from 178.5m to 169m, The website also contains information about a proposed community benefit fund which mentions the figure of €88,000 per year for 15 years to be shared with local groups based on the projected power output of the site.

It also suggests that households within a kilometre of the windfarm would receive €1,000 per year.

Stipulation

Mr Crowley said payment was a stiplulation of the Renewable Energy Support Scheme, and acknowledged that in the event the scheme went ahead, the question of how the fund was split would be determined by a local committee including community representatives.

As there are no houses within 1km of the site, that committee could determine that the limit be extended or the money could go into a fund for local groups or for the development of energy efficiency projects locally, he said.

Niall Ó Luasa, the owner of Ostán Guagán Barra and spokesman for the campaign to oppose the previous proposal, spoke to The Echo about the proposed development and its impact on the community.

“There’s a feeling of general disappointment for the community, having to start again, here we go again, will this continue for the next generation, will we have to keep doing this?”

A planning application has yet to be submitted for this proposal and it’s not clear yet whether there will be a campaign to oppose it similar to that which was mounted for the previous proposal for seven wind turbines.