Local opposition fails to halt €80m windfarm plan

An Bord Pleanála has given the go-ahead for a giant, €80m windfarm near the north Tipperary village of Upperchurch in spite of widespread local opposition.

The promoters, Ecopower Developments Ltd, claim the output from the 413-ft high windfarm — taller than Dublin’s Spire — will be sufficient to power 23,000 homes, which is equivalent to the domestic electricity requirements of north Tipperary.

The scheme — to be located 2km from Upperchurch and 18km to the west of Thurles — will also create 277 temporary jobs in civil and electrical construction firms and other companies during the construction phase and eight permanent jobs when operational.