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13 Feb 2026
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13 Feb 2026
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Plans for a 10 year solar farm in Shanmullagh, Ballinamuck, have been lodged with Longford County Council.
The application, which was filed last Friday by Shanmullagh Family Farm Ltd and is currently in the pre-validation stage, requests planning permission for a solar farm with a total area of 11 hectares (equivalent to 27 acres)
Read More: New plans lodged to demolish former Longford creamery for 54 new houses
According to the application, the director of Shanmullagh Family Farm Ltd is Donal McLoughlin of Ballinamuck.
Barry Caslin, an Energy and Rural Development Specialist with Teagasc, submitted a letter expressing his “strong support for Donal McLoughlin’s proposed development of a 6 MW solar farm on his lands at Shanmullagh Family Farm, Ballinamuck, County Longford.”
In his letter, Mr Caslin outlined a number of points as to why the project would be of benefit, and stated that “the solar farm will enhance the local landscape, offering an amenity that visitors to the nearby Shanmullagh Walkway can appreciate.”
Read More: Planning permission granted for construction of apartments in Longford town centre
According to the details of the application, the solar farm will consist of solar panels of ground mounted frames, 14 singles storey electrical inverter stations, 1 single storey electrical LV/MV transformer station, 2 single storey spare parts containers, 1 ring main unit, 1 MV substation, underground electrical ducting and cabling within the development site, as well as security fencing, CCTV, access tracks, temporary construction compounds, landscaping and all associated ancillary development and drainage works.
The application states that the development will connect into the existing 20kV overhead electricity line that crosses the site.
The operational lifespan of the solar farm will be 40 years and according to the application, “planning is requested for this duration.”
Longford County Council is expected to return a decision by April 2.
Funded by Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
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