Dysart Church and Windy Gap missed by Eirgrid

One of the most scenic viewpoints in Laois was not taken into account by Eirgrid’s archeologist, who said also there was ‘no surface trace’ of a monument at Dysart Enos, which features a restored 12th century chapel.

Miriam Carroll, hired by Eirgrid to study the potential impact on monuments and heritage by their substation project, said Dysart Enos “was assessed from a local road as it is surrounded on all sides by private farmland”.

Dysart resident Alice Blake angrily corrected the mistakes during cross examining of Eirgrid on day four of the Oral Hearing, last Thursday.

“When I stand in my kitchen, I look up at Dysart Enos church. It was there at 8 o’clock this morning,” she said.

She said the view from Oakvale woods across the Windy Gap will include the substation.

“I can’t understand why Eirgrid couldn’t have taken a magnificent photo at Oakvale and superimposed the project for your view, Inspector. It would have been an interesting photo,” she told An Bord Pleanála’s Andrew Boyle.