By Andy Spearman

As Councillors arrived at County Hall in Dundalk yesterday morning for the September meeting of Louth County Council they were met by a delegation from the Kellystown / Monasterboice Wind Action Group who are campaigning against a proposed wind farm to be built at Kellystown in the midst of this rural community.

While two dozen or so members maintained their picket outside County Hall, nine others were invited to make a presentation to the meeting.

Outlining the group’s objections to the plans by the French national electricity company EDF to construct up to five 180 metre high wind turbines, spokesperson Ray Donagh said that while they acknowledge that projects such as that proposed by EDF can cause community division – it is not the group’s aim to foster division.

“We do however have serious objections to EDF’s proposal for this area” he said. “Up to 5 x 180m steel turbines is effectively a power plant in a rural residential community.

“There are 456 homes within a 2km of the site and St Patricks National School in Harestown is less than 1KM from the nearest turbine.

“There will also be substantial land disturbance as a result of the additional siting of auxiliary buildings eg substations, access roads, connection routes to national grid etc. All of this in an Area of High Scenic Quality.”

Mr Donagh said that Ireland’s wind energy development guidelines were set back in 2006 and are now obsolete as they are based on a much smaller turbine size.

Noise pollution is another big issue for the Kellystown / Monasterboice residents. According to the World Health Organisation, noise from wind turbines can lead to stress, nuisance, cognitive impairment and cardio vascular disease.

Wind turbines emit a “swishing” sound generated by the movement of blades as they encounter turbulence in the air. Noise is also produced by turbine machinery a constant “hum” or “whine” which can be particularly annoying.

A third type of noise associated with wind turbines is a low frequency noise is called infrasound which particularly affects people with Autism or sensory issues.

In March of this year the High Court held that the noise generated by wind turbines constituted a nuisance and interfered with the plaintiff’s enjoyment of their own homes (March 2024).

Shadow flicker caused by the moving shadows of the turbine blades is another problem associated with wind turbines.

More seriously perhaps, the development of onshore wind turbines can and does have a detrimental impact on property values within a 3km distance and the group gave examples of this.

In their presentation the group did offer suggested solutions such as the use of appropriate renewable energy sources such as solar, heat pumps, bioenergy and to continue the retrofitting of older homes.

They also pointed out that there are four off- shore wind projects proposed along the Louth coast – The North Sea Array off Clogherhead, Oriel Wind Farm off Cooley point, Mainstream Off Shore Wind east of Drogheda extending south and Setanta Wind Park off Clogherhead extending south.

It is the group’s contention that offshore wind farms should be free floating platforms, 20 Km off shore, out of sight and complying with all the planning and environmental legislation.

Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council Kevin Callan (above) said that he was glad to be able to facilitate and arrange for the Kellystown Monasterboice Wind Action Group to attend in the council meeting to present their objections and concerns to the elected Councillors.

“I feel it is extremely important that residents and people living in an area are heard and have the right to make their case.

“I would like to thank those who attended at County Hall and who presented on behalf of what is a quiet and private residential and agricultural area of the county.

“I also want to thank the Councillors who came in early to attend the meeting before the monthly statutory meeting. This rural area and its residents would be seriously impacted in my opinion by the possible introduction of on shore wind turbines so close to their homes and such schemes must have consideration of impact on quality of life of residents, preservation of bio-diversity and archaeology.

“The group have asked me to seek to meet with the company involved in advancing the project to highlight the objections of the local community and to convey the message that it is not wanted. Members of the group further asked for the entire area of on shore wind energy be examined in the context of the County Development Plan.”