Wind farm at pilgrimage site rejected

Heritage campaigners today backed a decision to block the building of a wind farm overlooking the pilgrimage island of Lough Derg in Co Donegal.

An Taisce welcomed An Bord Pleanála’s decision to refuse permission for 12 turbines on the primary grounds of its impact on the island.

The application by Hibernian Wind Power Limited, an ESB subsidiary, had been granted permission by Donegal County Council and appealed by An Taisce.

The site was on the ridge of the plateau running along the northern side of Lough Derg.

An An Taisce spokesman said the grounds of An Bord Pleanála’s refusal were its location in an elevated position overlooking Lough Derg and that the development would be a visually obtrusive feature which would adversely affect the tranquillity and setting of Lough Derg.

An Bord Pleanála also found the proposed development would seriously harm views from Station Island and the nearby quay, which are of special amenity value and interest, as designated in the 2000 Donegal Development Plan, the spokesman said.

An Taisce said the decision by Donegal County Council to grant permission for the facility showed a failure to comply with its own development plans.

The body also raised concerns about the inadequacy of the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government (DoEHLG) Wind Energy Guidelines in providing for a strategic framework for wind energy development in Ireland

Lough Derg lies about four miles north of the village of Pettigo in Co Donegal.

Station Island, the location of the pilgrimage, is often referred to as St Patrick’s Purgatory or simply Lough Derg.

The small lake-island, renowned in tradition since the time of St Patrick, has been receiving pilgrims for well over 1,000 years.