Duhallow to become giant windfarm?

A vast swathe of the Duhallow countryside is in danger of being turned into a giant wind farm - with some of the planned turbines taller than Dublin's Millennium Spire.

That's the view of a resident group established to fight a plan by Esk Windfarm Ltd to build 14 wind turbines with associated works on Bweeng Mountain.

The Kilshannig/Nadd Wind Farm Action Group held a public meeting at Bweeng Hall on Tuesday evening, which was addressed by Waterford based anti wind farm and pylon campaigner Kieran Hartley.

This was the latest in a series of meetings that have led to the lodging of several objections to the application for the development, which was lodged with Cork Council planners in July.

The application makes provision for 14 wind turbines with a maximum blade tip height of 136.5 metres, the upgrading of exiting roads and the construction of two new internal roads a 90-metre high wind anemometry mast and other ancillary works.

Group spokeswoman Linda O'Connell said they wanted to make it very clear members were not against renewable energy.

"However, the location and the sheer size of these wind turbines is extremely alarming. At 136 metres, they will stand higher that the Spire in Dublin," she said.

Ms O'Connell said that research undertaken in Denmark has shown the negative effects of wind farm developments can be felt within a 10-mile radius.

"Issues that concern us include noise, shadow flickering, communications problems and the loss of property equity. These are just some of the issues we feel would have a massive effect on our community," she said.

Ms O'Connell said that was even before taking into consideration the visual effect would have on what she described as the "world renowned" Duhallow Trail.

"As people may already know, there are already more than 50 giant turbines built or permitted in the vicinity. At this stage we feel enough is enough," she said.

"We do not want the whole Duhallow area to be turned into turned into one big wind farm. This would be the wind farm in the vicinity, who is to say it would be the last?"

Ms O'Connell appealed for local people to get behind their campaign to stop Bweeng Mountain wind farm development.

"The group would be grateful for any support we can get," she said.

For more information about the campaign visit the Kilshannig Nadd Wind Farm Action Group Facebook page or email k.n.windactiongroup@gmail.com.