Kilberry unites against wind farm proposal

There was a large turnout last week as the ‘No to Kilberry Windfarm’ group held a community meeting on Thursday 6 March for residents with “major concerns”.

All who gathered at Kilberry NS were invited to sign a petition against the proposed development of the wind farm and a wind farm committee was formed.

The turnout for the meeting was remarkable with Catherine Casey from the group noting that they had a “full hall” of people that attended on the night.

“I was shocked with how many people there are in opposition,” she said. “We gathered the community. There was a lot of people that didn’t know much about it.” 

Catherine explained that there were some Kilberry residents in attendance that live within 2.5km of the proposed windfarm and who were not informed of it. 

“We found people within 2.5km of it who hadn’t got brochures," she said. “It’s shocking. It’s life changing and they need to know about it.” 

Catherine and the rest of the group have been educating themselves on the ins and outs of windfarms, speaking to residents of other windfarms in the country, and even visiting some of them including Cloncreen Windfarm in Offaly.

Catherine has kept contact with the Bord Na Mona liaison officer and has reached out to the defense forces for their input too.

Catherine and the Kilberry group were informed that a local farmer had been approached by Bord Na Mona three years ago, asking if they could make a path through their farm that gives access to the lands that were later acquired for the project.

Catherine and the group worry that preparations for the proposed wind farm have been in process for a lot longer than they had knowledge of. “They know what they’re doing,” said Catherine.

With a community of nearly 600 people behind her on the Facebook page, Catherine believes that most residents are in opposition to the proposed project.

She said: “No one wants it around here. It’s always been quiet around here. No one wants piles of wind turbines.” 

Residents worry about the proposed project’s affect on the bog and its wildlife, possible health impacts, and the higher chance of fires on the bog as a result of the wind turbines.

Catherine said: “If that bog goes up in fire, I don’t know how the fire brigades would get control of it.” 

Catherine has three children with autism and worries about the effects the proposed project might have on their wellbeing. She worries that loud noises and vibrations from the wind turbines might have a negative impact on her children, who struggle with sensory issues.

She is not alone in this, as she recounted a woman who approached her during the community meeting and said: “thanks for standing up for kids with autism.” 

With help on their side from public representatives including Labour's TD Mark Wall, the group is hopeful that something might be done to help their position.

Deputy Wall attended the meeting as a “concerned resident” and has been a great help to the group in getting the word out, and including concerns about the project in a leaders question in the Dáil.

Catherine is really thankful for everyone involved in the opposition group so far, with a special thanks to Teri Bracken who she said has been doing “phenomenal work” for the group.

Speaking about the meeting's goal, Catherine said: “This is not scaremongering. I wanted to make sure that everyone knows what’s going on.” Catherine is proud of the work that has been done in opposition, come what may. 

“At least we can say we tried.” 

The opposition group awaits meetings organised by Bord Na Mona and SSE Renewables scheduled this week. The public are invited to attend these information meetings. Tuesday, 11 March, 5-8.30pm, Rheban GAA Club, Newtownbert, Bert, Athy, Kildare, Wednesday, 12 March, 5-8.30pm, Nurney GAA Club, Walterstown, Nurney, Kildare, and Thursday, 13 March, 5-8.30pm, Saint Laurence’s GAA Club, Oldgrange, Narraghmore, Kildare.