O’Brien: Waste plant could shut Ballydoyle
Expressing concern about the potential atmospheric emissions from such a plant, Mr O’Brien said yesterday that “air quality is vital” to the training of thoroughbred horses.
Speaking on the opening day of an oral hearing into a proposal to build an animal byproducts processing plant 3km from the internationally famous Ballydoyle establishment, the multi-classic winning trainer said the planned project was “a total no-go” as far as he was concerned.
“I think there’s no doubt it would be the end of Ballydoyle,” he said. “It would be a disaster because everyone knows the huge investment in Ballydoyle and the equine industry over the years.”
Mr O’Brien has trained top-level horses such as Dylan Thomas, George Washington, Galileo, and High Chaparral since taking over at Ballydoyle from legendary trainer Vincent O’Brien in the mid-1990s.
Mr O’Brien and his wife Anne-Marie are among a number of objectors to the plant, which is proposed by the Green Organics Energy (GOE) consortium. Coolmore, the owners of the Ballydoyle facility, between Cashel and Clonmel, are also objecting and have engaged a team of experts to argue their corner at the hearing.
“All the experts say this technology, on this scale, cannot work,” said Mr O’Brien. “We train elite equine athletes and air quality and surroundings is vital to that.”
He said “you couldn’t expect equine athletes to perform” if there was a waste processing plant down the road. “We have a massive team of human beings working in Ballydoyle. Everybody works very hard and air quality is everything.”
Anne-Marie O’Brien said it was “inconceivable” that the proposed animal rendering and bio-energy generating plant could go ahead as planned. “I’d be appalled at the thought of it going ahead. Not only myself, but the whole community.”
She said she had “no doubt” An Bord Pleanála would uphold South Tipperary County Council’s decision to refuse planning for the GOE project.
GOE have refuted allegations that their bio-energy plant, if developed, would have a negative effect on the local horse-training and horse-breeding industry. Environmental consultant Michael Cunningham told the hearing that a detailed assessment of the potential impact on the equine industry found no impact. Pointing out that rendering had previously been carried out on the Castleblake site, he said that this previous site was “further evidence” to demonstrate there was no impact on the industry.
GOE’s project manager Paul Barrett said afterwards that Coolmore and Ballydoyle had previously existed alongside a rendering plant at the site and had managed to operate successfully. “We believe there’s a perception here of a danger, but it’s not a reality,” said Mr Barrett.
Alongside the O’Briens and Coolmore, others against the proposal include South Tipperary for Clean Industry, An Taisce, St Thomas the Apostle National School, the Rosegreen Development Association, and county council chairman Cllr John Fahey.
