Saturday, 16 August 2025
Community Opposition Mounts Against Proposed Wind Farm on Laois-Kilkenny Border Two communities along the Laois-Kilkenny border are raising concerns about the environmental and health impacts of a proposed wind farm that would see the construction of eight large wind turbines stretching from Ballyragget to Durrow. The local action group, NoToSeskinWindFarm, made up of residents from […]
Two communities along the Laois-Kilkenny border are raising concerns about the environmental and health impacts of a proposed wind farm that would see the construction of eight large wind turbines stretching from Ballyragget to Durrow.
The local action group, NoToSeskinWindFarm, made up of residents from Durrow in Co Laois and Ballinaslee in Co Kilkenny, says they were blindsided by the project and are now calling on the Government to urgently update national wind energy guidelines.
Wind energy is central to Ireland’s strategy for reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to renewable electricity. Under the Climate Action Plan 2024 and the National Energy and Climate Plan, Ireland aims to generate 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. To achieve this, the country must add approximately 600 megawatts (MW) of new wind energy capacity every year.
Ireland’s wind strategy includes both onshore and offshore wind projects:
Onshore wind currently makes up the majority of Ireland’s renewable electricity generation. It’s cheaper and faster to build but more likely to face local opposition due to visibility and proximity to communities.
Offshore wind is in earlier stages of development but offers higher capacity and is less intrusive to local populations. However, it involves longer timelines, higher costs, and complex planning.
As of 2024, Ireland has over 4,600 MW of installed onshore wind capacity, supplying around 35–40% of national electricity needs annually. The country is considered one of the windiest in Europe, making it well-suited for wind power generation.
Modern wind turbines are significantly taller than those envisioned in 2006, often reaching 175 to 200 metres in height. Without updated setback distances, noise thresholds, or visual impact assessments, communities argue that existing regulations no longer offer adequate protection.
The Government’s updated Wind Energy Development Guidelines (WEDGs) are expected to address these issues, including:
Minimum setback distances from homes
Community benefit schemes
Shadow flicker and noise limits
Visual and landscape impact assessments
However, until these guidelines are finalised and enforced, planning disputes like the one in Laois-Kilkenny are likely to continue.
The developer, Seskin Renewable Energy Limited, has submitted a planning application to construct:
Eight wind turbines, each with a tip height of 175 metres,
A rotor blade diameter of 150m,
A hub height of 100m,
Along with a substation and a 100m meteorological mast.
The company is seeking a ten-year planning permission, with a proposed operational lifespan of 35 years.
According to the developer, the wind farm would supply clean energy to approximately 36,000 homes and contribute to Ireland’s renewable energy targets outlined in the Climate Action Plan 2025.
Walter Foyle, a spokesperson for the NoToSeskinWindFarm group, said the proposed site falls within an area of protected views under the Laois County Development Plan, which he says explicitly rules out wind turbines in that zone.
“This is a very beautiful area, and it will totally blight the landscape,” he said.
Residents have also raised practical and safety concerns, particularly regarding the logistics of transporting and installing the large turbine components. The main road through the village is not wide enough to accommodate the turbine blades, which weigh 25 tonnes each, meaning they would need to be hoisted over homes using a giant crane.
Other objections include the likely disruption to local infrastructure, including Tae Lane, a historic part of Durrow that could become a construction site. Evelyn Clancy, Chairperson of the Durrow Development Forum, warned that native trees may be removed and that long-standing village features may be dismantled.
“It’s a hugely important historic area in Durrow and for this is to fill it up with chippings, to cover the green grass, take away all the trees and the pump that’s there for as long as I can remember,” she said.
Residents also fear overnight electricity cuts during transport, and general chaos from traffic rerouting.
The group argues that national guidelines on wind energy development are outdated, with current regulations dating back to 2006. They point out that today’s turbines are significantly taller, between 175 and 200 metres, yet there has been no corresponding policy update.
“In our case, [the turbines] are 700m from people’s dwellings,” said Walter Foyle. “If these were at sea, they would have to be placed a minimum of 15km from the shore.”
He added that the group is supporting a bill currently progressing through the Dáil that seeks to pause large-scale wind developments until updated guidelines are introduced.
“We’re hoping to set a precedent for other areas throughout the country,” he said.
In its planning application, Seskin Renewable Energy Limited stated that developments like this are essential to meeting Ireland’s climate targets, including delivering 9GW of onshore wind energy and reaching 80% renewable electricity by 2030.
“Ireland needs to scale up onshore wind energy development at an unprecedented rate to achieve our 9GW target and 80% RES-E target set out in the Climate Action Plan 2025. […] The proposed development will be installed and operational before the end of the decade, adding approximately 48MW of renewable, clean energy to our national wind energy capacity.”
The company said it would not be commenting further while the planning applications are under statutory review. Submissions to both Laois County Council and Kilkenny County Council closed on Tuesday, with a decision expected in September.
As the planning process moves forward, communities on the Laois-Kilkenny border remain firm in their opposition to the proposed wind farm, citing concerns about landscape impact, infrastructure disruption, and outdated national guidelines. While the developer argues that the project is vital to meeting Ireland’s renewable energy targets, locals are calling for a pause until planning policies reflect the scale of modern turbine developments. With a decision expected in September, the outcome may set a precedent for how Ireland balances climate commitments with rural community concerns.
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