Opposition to proposed local wind farm grows

An opposition campaign against a planned wind farm in the Rahara area has held its first meetings. 

A group of locals met over the last two Mondays to discuss the proposed four turbine development and to voice concerns.

The application is at the initial pre validation stage and a decision on it is expected by July 25th. The developer is seeking a 10 year planning permission for the proposed development on a site area of 27.4 hectares. A 35-year operational life from the date of full commissioning of the entire wind farm is also being sought.

In April, EDF Renewables Ireland Ltd applied to Roscommon County Council to build four wind turbines, an 8kV on-site electrical substation, and a permanent battery energy storage system in the townlands of Carrowkeel, Longfield, Kilmass, Grange, and Rahara.

If granted permission, the proposed onsite substation and grid connection will remain as permanent infrastructure and form part of the national grid network.

The turbines will have an overall blade tip height of 184.55m to 185m, a rotor diameter of 149.1m to 163m, and a hub height of 103.5m to 110m.

Permission is also being sought to fell approximately 5.5ha of forestry to facilitate the construction and operation of the proposed wind farm.

Biodiversity enhancement measures, including the replanting of 2.42ha of trees and 1,240m of hedgerows on-site, are included in the planning application.

In addition, the application seeks approximately 2,400m of new internal permanent access tracks, and it is accompanied by an environmental impact assessment report and natura impact statement.

Under the proposal, the underground electrical and communications cables connecting the turbines to the farm’s substation are to run under or along the internal road network.

In addition to the proposed wind farm, a related 38kV grid connection development will be subject to a future planning application.

This will comprise approximately 18.8 km of underground cable from the proposed wind farm substation to the consented 110kV substation at Taduff, South Roscommon, crossing the townlands of Longfield, Kilmass, Carrowkeel, Rahara, Lysterfield, Gortnasoolboy, Coolnageer, Carrick, Derryglad, Gortnasythe, Atteagh, Ratawragh, Mullagh, Knocknanool, Corrantotan, Ballymulvahill, Rooskagh, Cloonakille and Bealnamulla.

Two well attended public meetings about the windfarm have already taken place in Rahara NS.

Mr Vincent Mulry from Rahara, who is opposed to the development, said that people were concerned about the height and noise of the turbines, the visual impact on the landscape, and the potential impact on Lough Funshinagh, as well as the presence of the substation and battery storage system.

“We are also concerned about the removal of the 400 year old habitat around the protected 17th century Longfield Castle to facilitate access,” he said.

“Habitat is easy to remove but it takes a long time to come back. People are very concerned.”

Local councillor Laurence Fallon encouraged people to make their views known on the application, which he said will run parallel to the Rahara-Athleague road.

“Anyone is entitled to make a submission on it, either for or against it. People should make their views known.”

The company, which is also developing a solar farm in the Drum area, said that the completed Carrowkeel Wind Farm aims to generate around 24MW of clean energy, powering approximately 16,000 homes across the country.

Carrowkeel Wind Farm Action Group can be contacted via email, cwag2026@gmail.com.