Community groups across North Mayo urge public to oppose plans for 13-turbine onshore windfarm

"Plans to build 13 turbines with a capacity of 86 megawatts have been submitted by RWE Renewables Ireland Limited to An Coimisiún Pleanála. RWE has identified a study area for the Muingmore Onshore Windfarm, which is located approximately 11km west of Bangor, Erris, and 4km north of Geesala. The development would include 13 turbines, associated internal roads, an electrical substation, underground cabling, a battery storage facility and ancillary works."

"The proposed site spans approximately 455 hectares of cutaway bog, agricultural land and forestry across the townlands of Mount Jubilee, Muingmore, Doolough and Geesala. Planning notices relating to the development were erected in the area on Monday, May 18. A number of local community and tourism groups, including VisitBelmullet.ie, the Erris Action Group Against Windfarms, and the Erris Chamber of Commerce, have since expressed serious concerns about the plans."

"In a post on social media, the president of the Erris Chamber of Commerce, Brian Bakeberg, said the turbines, "each one reaching 180 meters to the blade tip", would stand at around 15 times the height of the 12m-tall Blacksod Lighthouse. Mr Bakeberg said the turbines would be "visible from Elly Bay beach, from Blacksod Point, from the water in the bay, from every approach into the peninsula. For 35 years"."

"He also pointed out that the planning notices appeared just 17 days after Fáilte Ireland launched the Wild Mayo Destination and Experience Development Plan 2026-2031, a tourism strategy for North Mayo that was "built entirely on the promise of this wild, unspoilt coastline", adding that the "Mullet Peninsula is at its heart". While stressing that the Chamber is not opposed to renewable energy, Mr Bakeberg said the organisation believes this is t"

Plans have been submitted for the Muingmore Onshore Windfarm in Erris, proposing 13 turbines with an 86MW capacity. The study area lies about 11km west of Bangor and 4km north of Geesala, covering roughly 455 hectares of cutaway bog, agricultural land, and forestry across Mount Jubilee, Muingmore, Doolough, and Geesala. The development would include internal roads, an electrical substation, underground cabling, a battery storage facility, and ancillary works. Planning notices were erected on May 18. Local community and tourism groups have raised serious concerns, including the scale and long-term visibility of turbines and potential conflict with tourism plans for North Mayo’s wild coastline.

Read at Irish Independent