Clare County Council refuses permission for wind turbine delivery route at Kilrush, Co. Clare

In context

It is one of 4 wind energy applications Clare County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 61 nationally. Of the 85 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 74% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 2 July 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Clare County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

for a renewable energy development in the townlands of Moanmore Lower, Moanmore South, Tullabrack, Tullabrack East and Gower South, Kilrush, Co Clare. The Development will include the: • erection of 3 no. wind turbines with an overall ground to blade tip height of 150m, with a rotor diameter of 136m and a hub height of 82m and a total generating capacity of 15MW, • construction of turbine hard stand areas and turbine foundations, • construction of new internal site access tracks and upgrade of existing site track, to include all associated site drainage, • construction of 1. no new site entrance along the turbine delivery route with access onto the adjoining local road network (L6132), • construction of 1 no. temporary construction compound with associated temporary site offices, parking areas and security fencing, • development of a site drainage network, • construction of 1 no. 38kV electrical substation with all associated electrical plant and equipment, security fencing, lightening protection, security cameras and gates, and all ancillary structures and works, • 1 no. permanent spoil storage area, • all wind farm internal cabling connecting the wind turbines to the electrical substation, • all works associated with the permanent connection of the wind farm to the national electricity grid comprising a 38kV underground cable in permanent cable ducts from the proposed, permanent, on-site substation and to the existing Tullabrack 110kV ESBN Substation, • 2 no. flood compensation areas, • vertical realignment of an existing crest curve on the L6132 local road in order to prevent grounding of abnormal load vehicles during delivery of turbine components, • ancillary forestry felling to facilitate construction and operation of the development, • construction of a blade transfer area off the L6132, • provision of 2 no. biodiversity enhancement areas, • upgrade of an existing site entrance onto the adjoining local road network (L2034) including the demolition of an existing wall and removal of hedgerow at the site entrance to facilitate abnormal load vehicles during delivery of turbine components and reconstruction of same wall and replanting of hedgerow, • Landscaping and all associated ancillary works. This application is seeking a ten year permission and a 40 year operational life from the date of commissioning of the wind farm. The planning application is accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and a Natura Impact Statement (NIS).