Public protest held in Laois over wind farm proposal

Scores of Durrow and Ballinaslee residents organised a protest to demonstrate their unified opposition to a proposed wind farm development on the Laois Kilkenny border at the weekend. 

The campaign group say the development would involve the installation of ‘mega’ offshore-scale turbines across the midlands’ scenic landscape.

Organised by the NoToSeskinWindFarm campaign group, the protest aimed to visually demonstrate the scale and potential disruption of the project. 

Seskin Renewable Energy Limited is planning to erect eight wind turbines with a ground to blade tip height of 175m and a blade length of 75m.

The wind farm is being proposed in the townlands of Tinwear and Archerstown, County Laois and Ballynaslee, Seskin, Ballyconra and Moatpark, County Kilkenny. 

In a display of opposition, five articulated lorries and trailers, matching the projected size and scale of turbine components, travelled through the area to simulate how the turbines would be transported.

Organisers say one turbine blade and its transporter would span more than 82 metres in length.

Locals gathered on the historic Tae Lane in Durrow on Monday, August 4, where the convoy paused to highlight the impact such development would have on this part of the town. 

According to the group, the planning application would require the removal of native trees and the dismantling of the local pump to facilitate turbine transport, effectively transforming the area into a construction site for an extended period.

Residents are also concerned about the safety and practicality of what they say will be the transporting and hoisting multi-tonne turbine blades over homes along Mary Street and Carrigan Street.

Their demonstration continued to Ballinaslee, located near the N77 national route, which serves as the main access point for the proposed site, situated just 2km from Durrow.

To address growing local concern, an emergency public meeting is being held on Thursday, August 7 in The Castle Arms Hotel, Durrow at 8pm. The meeting will provide a forum for residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to discuss the proposal and its potential consequences for the area.