Special measures for a special area

THE upland countryside where the counties Cork, Kerry and Limerick meet continues to be a place where rare and threatened species of wildlife can still be found.

In the last 20 to 30 years, the territory has been heavily forested — excessively, some might say — and it has also become a windfarm zone, which immediately raises questions about the impact a large number of turbines can have on nature.

An Bord Pleanála, which recently granted planning permission to Saorgus Energy for a 28-turbine windfarm in the Cordal area, roughly between Castleisland and Newmarket, laid down strict conditions, as you might expect in one of nature’s last refuges here.