Locals in North Mayo say that an increasing number of proposed large-scale wind farms would destroy the area’s unspoiled countryside and open coastline as well as undermine the “rich heritage” of the area.
Plans include 22 turbines at Glenora, 16 at Tyrawley (Lacken), 8 at Keerglen, potentially 22 at Clydagh and others at Carrowcullen and Carrowmacshane, for which the number is undetermined.
According to the Lacken / Ballycastle Protection Group, the area is facing the prospect of seeing over 100 “towering” wind turbines introduced to an area that until recently was on the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tentative List (the Ceide Fields and the Boglands of North and West Mayo).
Activists opposing the development say a conversation is urgently needed about how wind farms could destroy the landscape as well as the rich cultural heritage of the area, with the region’s history spanning 6,000 years.
Cumulative impacts of the plan should be brought to light, say those opposing the proposals, including on biodiversity, soil and geology, as well as the overall quality of life stemming from the visual impact and factors like noise and shadow flicker.
Profit for energy companies is being disguised as climate action, with the supposed climate benefits limited, opponents of such wind farms have argued.
According to Teresa Fagan, Chair of the Lacken Ballycastle Protection Group, a proposed 16-wind turbine development in the area of Tirawley will dominate views from all local sites in the area stretching from Lacken to as far as the Enniscrone coast.
“The effect on the landscape will be irreversible and it’s madness that this could be done on the wild Atlantic way which is such a huge tourist attraction for all the west coast of Ireland.”
“These are not just scenic places; they are part of our heritage, our identity, and the daily experience of living here,” Ms Lacken told Gript. The visible transformation of the area would be both significant and irreversible, said the local activist.
While the scenic areas of West Mayo, including Westport, Achill and Louisburgh, were designated as unsuitable for windfarms, areas of North Mayo were not categorised as such. Activists in the area point out that equally scenic areas in the North of the county were instead designated ‘Open to Consideration.’ But they believe they should have been marked as ‘Unsuitable for Development.’
‘THE WHOLE OF NORTH MAYO WILL BE COVERED’
The local group believes that the position of Tirwaley, a location of “outstanding natural beauty and unique, world-renowned archaeological heritage, is a matter of public interest and public policy that needs to be investigated and properly explained.”
“It’s important not to underestimate how this application will impact on all of North Mayo. If the powers that be allow this application to go ahead despite its impact on the historic landscape that is the Céide fields, then the whole of North Mayo will be covered in wind turbines. And before we know it, there will be more than 300 massive turbines in Lacken and surrounding areas,” said Ms Fagan.
Ms Fagan warns about the ‘growing industrialisation’ of the countryside by wind farm developments, threatening a landscape that she says is “irreplaceable.”
“The planning application includes photos which show not only the potential Tirawley wind farm, but also future wind farm development proposed for the area.
“It is important to understand that the Tirawley proposal is not an isolated project,” she says.
“There are several other wind developments already planned or in progress in the surrounding area. If this one goes ahead, it could set a precedent that encourages even more industrial-scale development across our rural landscape,” said Ms Fagan.
“The maps and technical drawings show how this could spread across multiple townlands — a patchwork of turbines stretching across our skyline. This isn’t about opposing renewable energy — it’s about scale, location, and the cumulative effect on our community and environment.”
Ms Fagan added that proper planning regulations are required, rather than current guidelines from 2006 “that are 20 years old and out of date.”
According to the planning application, the development is for the construction of 16 turbines, one meteorological mast, a permanent operations compound, an on-site substation, works along the Turbine Delivery Route and construction of an underground grid connection to Asahi 110 kV substation.
Ms Fagan said public meetings have been well attended, with the closing date for objections to the application (25th November) fast approaching.
Because County Councillors themselves have no direct power in the process, public submissions hold extra weight, according to Ms Fagan. (While Mayo County Council would ordinarily be the first point of contact for planning applications, large-scale developments can bypass local Councils and go directly to An Bord Pleanála as a Strategic Infrastructure Development).
“The Council is responsible for checking compliance with laws, regulations, and environmental requirements, and for carrying out assessments where needed. However, County Councillors themselves have no power in this process — something many people don’t realise,” explained Ms Fagan.
“This means the strength of public submissions is even more critical, because local democratic influence is limited. Our role is to fill that gap with a strong, unified voice.
The final decision regarding the application ultimately lies with An Bord Pleanála, the national body responsible for major infrastructure projects. The way in which the system is set up can make it feel “distant and bureaucratic,” says the chair of the Local group. However, evidence based objections from locals living in the areas where turbines are planned can signal significant local concern. Such objections are relied upon by inspectors who review the planning application, before preparing a report and making a recommendation to An Bord Pleanála.
“The potential environmental impacts are really important. Noise and shadow flicker being obvious ones – wind turbines can cause audible noise. The intermittent effect of “shadow flicker” when their blades pass between the sun and a building, potentially causes annoyance or, in rare cases, trigger health issues,” said Ms Fagan.
Per the application, there are 123 houses within the area of the development that could be affected by shadow flicker.
“That means real, measurable disruption for dozens of families. These are not speculative concerns — they are drawn from the developer’s own data, and they highlight the need for rigorous community scrutiny.”
Strategic planning should be in place to balance protection of the landscape, renewables, and the benefit to the community, the Lacken Ballycastle Protection Group say.
Developers of the Tirawley Wind Farm have been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.