Galway County Council grants permission for 81.9-hectare solar farm at Ballydonagh Cloonineen Skecoor Kiltormer, Co. Galway

In context

It is one of 13 solar farm applications Galway County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 337 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 20 February 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

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

for several minor amendments to the previously consented development under Planning Reference 2361049. The amendments comprise the following; re alignment of the main entrance and access gate; re alignment and widening of internal access tracks; alteration of the boundary fence; removal of the consented 38kV substation in Field 22; combined central inverters and MV transformers are replaced by separate string inverters and central MV transformers; reduction in the size of related hardstanding areas; updated table layout including a reduction in PV table numbers from 3209 to 3120; reduction of the of new overhead line separation areas arising from the removal of a section of the 110 kV overhead line; inclusion of an additional badger sett buffer and amendment of condition 3a to extend the operational lifetime of the solar farm from 35 years to 40 years. An updated Natura Impact Statement has been submitted with this application. A separate application to obtain permission for a 110kV grid connection and 110kV substation to facilitate the export of power from the solar farm, will be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála. This development is covered by the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413) and it is important to note that the planning application may be subject to section 34D of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. When a notice issues in accordance with section 34D(b), the provisions of article 26A of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2025 shall apply