Telecommunications mast next to holy well in Kerry refused permission

The 18m monopole mast at the Eir exchange on the outskirts of the seaside town was to have replaced two existing 12m timber poles. File photo: Don MacMonagle

A telecommunications mast adjacent to a holy well in Ballyheigue has been refused permission by An Bord Pleanála on the grounds that it is seen as "overbearing". It is the second such mast to be denied permission in north Kerry in recent weeks.

The 18m monopole mast at the Eir exchange on the outskirts of the seaside town was to have replaced two existing 12m timber poles.

Kerry County Council had refused permission on the grounds of the mast's "overbearing impact" on Lady’s Well, a recorded monument consisting of a holy well, grotto, Mass altar, sunken gardens and public facilities. 

The council also referred to planning guidelines by the Department of Environment and Local Government which state that "only as a last resort should free-standing masts be located on or in the immediate surrounds of smaller towns and villages".

Eircom Ltd, care of Towercom Ltd, had appealed the council's refusal. In terms of height, the proposed structure was "at the lower end of telecommunications infrastructure," the company said. The existing exchange was a suitable site and the proposal accorded with national policy, it also said.

Planning inspector, Breda Gannon, visited the Ballyheigue site in October. She formed the opinion the mast would not seriously detract from the character or setting of the Lady’s Well monument and recommended planning.

However, An Bord Pleanála refused permission on the grounds of its overbearing impact. The board was also not satisfied that alternative locations had been "fully explored" by the applicant.

It is the second monopole refusal in recent weeks in Kerry by An Bord Pleanála. A 15m mast in the village of Knocknagoshel on the Kerry-Limerick border was turned down in early December.

The purpose of the Knocknagoshel mast was to provide 5G services to the village and immediate area and enhanced 2G and 4G coverage to the village and N21, Eircom had argued.

However, the proposal had galvanised the hill top village community, with objectors noting the location was essentially the centre of their village and that the mast would dominate the village.