Proposed wind turbines will be over twice the height of the Statue of Liberty 

Locals in West Donegal are to step up their campaign to oppose a major wind farm development in their area that could see wind turbines twice the height of the Statue of Liberty erected in their area.

Danish multinational power company Ørsted and joint venture company FuturEnergy Ireland (Coillte and ESB) have submitted a planning application to An Bord Pleanála for 19 200m (656ft) high industrial wind turbines, pylons and a new substation on ten square kilometres between Doochary and the Gweebarra Bridge.

A spokesperson for the Gweebarra Conservation Group said locals were very worried about the proposed development on a number of fronts adding over  5,500 people have already signed their Save the Gweebarra petition.

"For comparison, a bungalow is seven metres high! These turbines would be over twice the height of the Statue of Liberty in New York, twice the height of the wind mast already erected in Clogherachullion townland and 17m (56ft) taller than the length of the Gweebarra Bridge which is 183m (600ft) long.

"It is hard to imagine the vast amount of trees, rock and peat which would have to be excavated to make holes big enough to accommodate the concrete and rebar steel hardstands necessary to hold up these giant turbines.

"If granted planning permission we believe people would be forced to move from their homes, including elderly, disabled and sick people as no one could live within several kilometres of such a huge industrial site." 

The spokesperson also said they had concerns about visual impact, tourism, the environment and landslides.

"The developers of the proposed wind farm admit that the turbines would be seen from at least 20km from the Gweebarra River with flashing lights day and night. 

"Land and property values would fall within sight or hearing of the wind farm, pylons and substation. Nobody wants their view destroyed or their property devalued.

"The county's tourism industry would be drastically affected as the turbines would be seen from houses and tourism businesses in Loughanure, Annagry, Arranmore Island, Burtonport, Ardara, Fintown, Glenties, Dungloe, Portnoo, Doochary, Lettermacaward, the Blue Stacks, Glenveagh National Park and Donegal's iconic Errigal Mountain as well as along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Donegal cannot afford to lose tourists, given tourism is the county's biggest employer.

The spokesperson explained that peat bogs are 'carbon sinks' meaning they store carbon and keep our air, streams and rivers clean. 

"Industrial mining for the wind industry is not clean or green. There are many species of protected wildlife here making these proposals illegal under Irish, European and international law.

"There is a worldwide biodiversity crisis and Ireland cannot afford to lose any more areas where wildlife still exists.

"Building a wind farm here would be a catastrophe with the displacement of people and wildlife and it would have the very real potential to pollute the Gweebarra River, one of the last salmon rivers in Ireland. It would also have the potential to pollute over a dozen household water wells of people living adjacent to the proposed site."

The group spokesperson pointed out that he Geological Survey of Ireland describes the area where the wind farm is planned as having 'Moderately High and High landslide susceptibility'.

"The Geological Survey described Meenbog outside Ballybofey as 'Moderately susceptible to landslide' yet planning permission was granted and ecocide ensued. We cannot allow that to happen here! 

"Indeed the only difference we in the Gweebarra Conservation Group can see between Meenbog and the planned wind farm is that if a landslide occurred here people living adjacent to the wind farm would be buried in their homes."

Health Impacts

There are known Uranium deposits in the area of the proposed wind farm and is is an area locals are very worried about.

"With rock blasting and rock breaking Uranium could be released exposing locals to cancers as well as polluting our land, streams and river.   

"Wind turbine blades are coated with a highly poisonous resin that contains Bisphenols which wash off in the rain and are cancer-causing when ingested by humans, farm animals and wildlife alike.

"Exposure to low-frequency noise or infrasound from wind turbines can cause sleepless nights, palpitations, tinnitus and coronary artery disease even in healthy individuals."

The spokesperson said the promoter's promised community fund did not amount to much when divided between the 550 households within 2km of the site whom the developers say would be impacted by their plans.

"It doesn't amount to much for what we consider would be torture day and night. We wouldn't even be able to cut out the noise by turning up the TV as the turbines proposed could interfere with TV and mobile phone reception in the area.

"When we call to houses to tell people what is planned they are asking what are our councillors and Donegal County Council doing to stop this wind farm?

The councillors in the Glenties Municipal District led the way to Donegal County Council passing the Wind Variation into law in the County Development Plan last Summer and in the Ministerial Directive of December 2022.

The Wind Variation protects various areas in County Donegal from wind farm development, including the Gweebarra River, yet here we are with another wind farm planning application. 

"We in Donegal are entitled to what the law calls the 'quiet enjoyment' of our homes. We in the Gweebarra Conservation Group are calling on Donegal County Council to vehemently oppose this planning application to An Bord Pleanála.

Local independent councillor, Micheal Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig urged everyone to object to the proposed development saying it flew in the face of what was good for this area.

"These comnpanies want to make money out of exploiting the natural beauty and resources in this area and no miserable short-term donation is worth ruining this beautiful part of the Wild Atlantic Way," he said.

In order to help people make objections to An Bord Pleanála the Gweebarra Conservation Group is holding an information session in St Bridget's Hall, Leitirmacaward on Saturday April 8, between 4pm and 9pm. The planning file number at An Bord Pleanala is 316025 and objections must be submitted to An Bord Pleanála before 5pm on May 8.

People can drop in anytime between those hours and get help with letters of objection or sign letters that they have compiled.