The Clare Echo 15/02/24

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clareecho.ie

Feb 15 2024

JACK IN THE BOX Wind farm

plans ‘tearing families apart’ in East Clare by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

FAMILIES have been “torn apart” over proposals for six separate wind farms in East Clare according to one county councillor. A total of 66 wind turbines could be erected across in East Clare in six different applications. Some turbines are to be 185m in height with local residents fearful they will dominate “the skyline” across East Clare. On Monday, elected members of Clare County Council were unanimous in their opposition to the Oatfield windfarm. An “awful impact” has already been experienced in East Clare, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) cautioned. “We are putting communities under stress, families are falling out with each other and l Jack Daly celebrates scoring the winning goal to put Bridge Utd’s U17s into the FAI semi-final

Photo by Joe Buckley

PJ’s putting politics to bed by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE’S LONGEST serving politician, Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) will be retiring from politics. Lissycasey native Kelly has confirmed he will not be seeking a nomination for Fianna Fáil’s selection convention in the Kilrush local electoral area and will not be in the ring for the local elections in June. First elected to the local authority in 1974, Cllr Kelly prevailed in nine elections, topping the poll and winning his seat on the first

count in 2019. “I’ve fifty years done and am one of three in the country. It is time for new blood, I’ve been honoured to have survived fifty years”. The Clare Echo completed what was PJ’s most in-depth interview since announcing his decision. This is available to read on page twelve with further material available for online subscribers of The Clare Echo.

More on Page 12

communities are in turmoil”. He stressed the need for proper guidelines at a national level on wind energy and said this opportunity has never been given to councillors. Cllr Pat Burke (FG) flagged, “There’s enough challenges in rural Ireland without these applications splitting communities”. More than one windfarm will manifest in Oatfield, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) predicted. “I’d say their goal is to go from Meelick to Bodyke,” he said. “There is “a necklace of windfarms” forming in East Clare, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) observed. Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) warned that the area is facing “a proliferation of windfarms”.

Full story Page 8-9


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