A proposed new wind farm in an Offaly bog has sharply divided opinion among locals. 

If built, the Lemanaghan Wind Farm would generate around 80 to 100 MW of renewable power and boost domestic energy security. 

Despite this, many locals feel upset at the idea of towering turbines being built in their local area and the road to the village of Ballycumber is dotted with signs that say, ‘No wind turbines’. 

Speaking to Josh Crosbie for The Pat Kenny Show, Lemanaghan Bog Heritage and Conservation Group Chair Seamus Corcoran said the wind farm should be built elsewhere.  

“My main concern is that it doesn’t take into consideration the importance of the rich archeology of the bog,” he said. 

“The consultation that we have had could hardly be described as consultation. 

“It is putting junk mail and this glossy brochure through our doors.

“What we are demanding is a public meeting, an open forum.” 

Seán Halligan, a local activist who has lived in Lemanaghan all his life, said the bog is too valuable a site for a wind farm. 

“Our feeling is that the bog should be preserved - let it grow back naturally,” he said. 

“There’s so many archaeological finds found in the bog. All this archeology is all mapped.” 

He hopes that an alternative site can still be found for the wind farm. 

“We are not against wind farms but we are against wind farms on the bog,” he said. 

“In the radius of less than three kilometres around the bog, they have 245 houses and we feel the infringement of turbines would have a detrimental effect on people.” 

In a statement to Newstalk, Bord na Móna said local residents' conerns will be considered as part of the planning application.

"The archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage of Lemanaghan Bog, and its surrounds, will be considered as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) that will accompany the planning application for the proposed development of Lemanaghan Wind Farm," they said.

"Since this project first launched in 2021, the project team and its community liaison officer have engaged with the local community on an ongoing basis in relation to the proposed wind farm."

A wind farm in Offaly. Picture by: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Out in Ballycumber, views on the proposal were mixed - with some locals vehemently against it, while others rather more relaxed. 

“I wouldn’t be in favour of it,” one woman told Josh. 

“I’ve just moved here and built a house here - my husband is local. So, we’ve just put all our life savings and built a house here and moved in 12 months ago. 

“We spent four years building it and now we’re faced with the possibility of living within 880 metres of a wind turbine. 

“I definitely would have considered where I bought a house.” 

One man said that the idea of a wind farm in the area “doesn’t bother me at all”. 

“Everyone has their own opinion,” he said. 

“My own opinion is I don’t care what happens.” 

Another woman said she objected to the idea because of the way wind turbines look. 

“I think they’re unsightly,” she said. 

“They’d spoil the area, I think they’re ugly and horrible.” 

Climate concerns

Offaly Green Party member Liam Walsh said he could understand local concerns but urged objectors to think about the need to generate more renewable electricity. 

“Anything that’s new always faces some sort of concern from the locals - which is understandable,” he said. 

“I think for the likes of Bord na Móna and the SSE, they need to stop and think about getting the local community very much on board and to listen to their concerns. 

“So, there’s a bit of empathy needed and I understand that but I also think that we need to think about the macro picture. 

“It’s not about just today, we have to think of the future and we have to think of our energy.” 

The Irish Government hopes to generate 80% of all electricity from renewable sources by the end of the decade.

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Main image: Wind farm opponents. Picture by: Newstalk