Fears wind farm could threaten Rathcroghan World Heritage bid

Roscommon County Council has warned that a proposed large-scale wind farm development in North Roscommon could jeopardise a bid to secure UNESCO World Heritage status for the Rathcroghan archaeological complex.

Carraigin Power Ltd is proposing the development of 11 wind turbines, each with a proposed tip height of 607 feet, together with a 98 foot meteorological mast along with an associated grid connection running northeast to the ESB substation at Flagford near Carrick on Shannon.

The turbines would have a lifespan of 35 years, with an initial 10-year planning permission period, and are earmarked for lands close to Frenchpark and Ballinagare.

In a report prepared for elected members at last week's monthly meeting of Roscommon County Council, chief executive Shane Tiernan said that while the council supports renewable energy in principle, these current windfarm proposals could not be endorsed in their present form.

The chief executive’s report identifies several concerns. Significantly, he has expressed concern about the windfarm’s potential impact on the Rathcroghan complex, considered to be one of Ireland’s most important archaeological landscapes.

There are fears that the turbines’ visual impacts on Rathcroghan could have possible negative effects on the site’s cultural heritage and tourism value and potentially jeopardise its bid to secure UNESCO World Heritage status. In his report, Mr Tiernan also notes that the wind farm is planned for an area designated as “Less Favoured” for wind energy instead of in a “Most Favoured” area as categorised under the County Development Plan.

At the council meeting, several councillors, including Boyle MD elected members who were present, voiced their strong objections to what they described as locating “a large scale development in a very sensitive area”.

Following the debate, councillors agreed with the chief executive’s recommendation in his report to not support the project in its current form. The report, which will also comprise concerns raised by councillors at Monday’s meeting, will be forwarded to An Coimisiún Pleanála as part of the local authority’s contribution to the consultation process.

Given its classification as strategic infrastructure, the wind farm application will be adjudicated by An Coimisiún Pleanála, which will ultimately decide whether to grant approval or refuse permission.