Cork County Council grants permission for solar farm at Ballynaclashy Ballyrichard Beg Curragh, Co. Cork

In context

It is one of 52 solar farm applications Cork County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 335 nationally. Of the 573 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 92% 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 30 October 2025. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues. The applicant sought a 10-year permission, which sets how long they have to start the development.

The development description, as lodged

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

Permission for a 10 year planning permission for the proposed development of an underground electricity interconnector cable will comprise of a 33kV double circuit underground cable route, of c.4.3km in length which is to be installed in an excavated trench including underground ducting, joint bays, horizontal directional drills (HDD), communication chambers and all associated site development and reinstatement works. The interconnector cable will extend from two newly proposed ring main units at the permitted Ballynaclashy Solar Farm to a substation at the permitted Lysaghtstown Solar Farm. The proposed development provides for a revision to part of the approved layout of the Ballynaclashy Solar Farm previously permitted under Cork County Council Planning Reference 21/4050 / An Bord Pleanála Reference ABP 311238-21. The revision to the layout comprises the installation of 2 no. ring main units and the laying of the underground electricity interconnector cable. The proposed development also provides for a revision to part of the approved layout of Lysaghtstown Solar Farm as previously permitted under Cork County Council Planning Reference 18/6769 (as amended by references 20/6891 and 21/5089). The revision to this layout comprises the laying of the underground electricity interconnector cable to a substation permitted under An Bord Pleanála Reference ABP 308979-20. The development will be carried out within a combination of the above referenced permitted solar farm boundaries, on private lands and within the L-7634, L-36172, L-7694 and R626 public roads. The underground electricity interconnector cable will be routed around Tomasheen Bridge through private lands via HDD. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared and will be submitted to the Planning Authority with the application.