Longford wind farm opponents praise expertise of Peter Sweetman and Gabriel Toolan

The No to Derryadd Wind Farm Community Group has welcomed the latest decisions by all parties in relation to the high court case around the proposed Derryadd wind Farm.

The decision of An Bord Pleanála and Bord na Móna to not appeal the refusal of the Derryadd development means the proposed 24 turbine development won’t be going ahead.

A spokesperson for the No to Derryadd Wind Farm Community Group said the news comes following ‘several years of talks, meetings, public information events, evidence gathering, early mornings, late nights and countless lost weekends with our families, whom we thank for their patience throughout’.

The spokesperson continued, “We would like to thank those in the local communities who supported and donated to these efforts and likewise those outside of these communities who offered their support and advice throughout this time.

“We also wish to show our appreciation to organisations, such as, Birdwatch Ireland, The Irish Wildlife Trust, The Golden Eagle Trust and the I.S.P.C.A who seen the importance of these lands for wildlife, species of conservation and their ability to answer many of the current declared Government emergencies, such as the climate and biodiversity emergency.

“We owe a special gratitude and congratulations to Mr Peter Sweetman for bringing the Judicial Review and his vast knowledge around planning and environmental issues and to Walter P. Toolan & Sons, (Gabriel Toolan) for their professional and legal expertise on this matter. They brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the field and it was greatly appreciated.

“As we have expressed many times before, our door is always open to Bord na Móna to work with the local communities with the view to establishing a biodiversity project on a scale never seen before on the island of Ireland and help to establish the Mid Shannon Wilderness Park in its entirety across the thousands of acres of cutaway boglands of Derryaroge, Lough Bannow and Derryadd.

A fantastic project that can not only deliver on answering the above declared emergencies, but also play a vital part of the Just Transition and local economy.

“Too many years have already been lost. The time for implementation is now and we are calling on not only Bord na Mona to help establish this, but our Government, local and neighbouring councils, our county councillors, our local TDs and Senators and our communities.

“To keep up to date on the activities and findings within these lands, be sure to follow the Mid Shannon Wilderness Awareness Group pages on Facebook, @mswplongford & Twitter @midshannon.”

‘Good news day’ for Longford wind farm opponents as An Bord Pleanála withdraws appeal