Youghal eyed for project that will secure Ireland’s electricity supplies post-Brexit

By Sean O’Riordan

An East Cork seaside town could be the preferred landfall for a new €930m submarine cable between Ireland and France, which will carry electricity and telecommunications links between the two countries.

Eirgrid, which is carrying out surveys for the project that will secure Ireland’s electricity supplies post-Brexit and into the future, has said that bringing a submarine cable on to land in Youghal would be less problematic than some other areas due to less rock offshore.

Eoghan Tuite, senior project engineer for the Celtic Interconnector project, said landfall locations in Wexford had been ruled out and the company is now concentrating on locations in east Cork.

He made his comments at two information sessions provided for councillors representing the East Cork and Cobh/Glanmire municipal district councils.

He said that it would be easier to bring the cable ashore at Claycastle or Redbarn beaches at Youghal than other potential sites along the coastline such as Ballycroneen, south of Cloyne, where there are undersea rock formations.

However, he emphasised that the impact of bringing the proposed service from Brittany ashore in Youghal would be the extra cost of additional cable line due to the increased distance.

Mr Tuite said marine surveys are continuing but he expected to have two preferred locations identified before the year-end.

The other landfall locations under consideration are Ballinwilling Strand, near Garrvyoe, and Inch Beach, also south of Cloyne.

Once ashore, the cable will be laid underground where possible and along roadside margins which would include the N25 (Cork-Waterford road) if Youghal was selected as the landfall location.

Mr Tuite also confirmed the cable will be connected to the national grid at the ESB station at Knockraha, 7km north-east of Glanmire.

A special converter station would also have to be built somewhere close by and potential sites are being examined around Carrigtwohill and Leamlara areas.

The interconnector will transmit high voltage direct current (DC) which will then be converted into alternating current (AC) at the converter station.

The cost of the project is being equally split between France and Ireland.

It is due to convey enough electricity to power 450,000 homes a day.

Around 500km of submarine cable will be laid, along with the remaining 75km onshore in locations in both Ireland and France.

Mr Tuite told councillors it will reduce electricity prices and enhance Ireland’s supply security after Brexit.

Eirgrid intends to submit a two-year pre-planning application to An Bord Pleanála but it is not anticipated construction will commence until 2022.

Cllr Mary Linehan-Foley said it looked likely the cable would reach landfall at either Redbarn or Claycastle and urged prolific public consultation if it was to be the case.