CORK LOCALS OBJECT TO WIND FARM PLANS
Communities in Inchigeela and neighboring Réidh na nDoirí are to fight against a wind farm proposal - which, it was claimed at a public meeting, already has plans to extend further, the Southern Star reports.
Up to 100 people attended the meeting at Inchigeela Community Hall, where father and son Michael and Paddy Crowley from Graigue, Inchigeela, outlined the background to the proposed 11-turbine wind farm at Cleanrath and Derrineanig, which is being developed by Cleanrath Windfarm Ltd. (Enerco Energy Ltd).
Paddy Crowley, who chaired the meeting, said the developer had failed to consult with the local community or to inform residents about the possibility of connection to Electricity Supply Board grids.
Crowley said that no mitigating measures could reduce the spatial dominance and visual impact of the sheer size of the turbines, which were out of proportion with any existing natural feature or development in the area. With a ground to hub height of 85 meters and the rotor diameter of 82 meters, the height from blade to tip is 126 meters, twice the height of County Hall and 5 meters taller than the spire on O'Connell Street.
Crowley further outlined that the proposed wind farm was contrary to the 2009 County Development Plan in that it was not located in or adjacent to a "Strategic Search Area," i.e. areas that have both relatively high wind speeds and relatively low landscape sensitivity to wind projects where developers are encouraged to focus for suitable sites.
It was also contrary to the plan's policy for preservation of heritage and environment, he claimed, in that the wind farm would be highly-visible in an area of high scenic and visual importance, listed as a Scenic Landscape in the County Development Plan and prominently visible from five scenic routes.
LIMERICK EVICTION UPHELD BY COURT
A Limerick family who subjected their neighbors to a campaign of intimidation, forcing some residents to leave their homes in fear, have until Aug. 1 to pack their bags and leave their council house, the Limerick Leader reports.
An appeal by the family to have a possession order for their house at Fairview Crescent, Garryowen, overturned, was struck out by Judge Petria McDonnell at the Circuit Civil Court.
Limerick City Council applied for the possession order over concerns that the estate was in danger of "turning into a ghetto," according to a tenancy enforcement officer, because of the actions of the family who had threatened, harrassed and assaulted their neighbors, and caused damage to property, including houses and cars.
CCTV cameras, linked directly to Henry Street Garda Station where activity in Fairview Crescent will be monitored 24 hours a day, will be installed in the estate this week, to ensure there is no further trouble in the three weeks leading up to the family's eviction.
MAYO ACHILL'S OLDEST RESIDENT DIES AT 102
The oldest of Achill Island's 2,700 people, Norah Jeremiassen, died last week in her 103rd year, the Mayo News reports.
A native of Dooniver on Achill Island, she was born on Dec. 23, 1908, the second youngest child of parents Ned and Mary Gannon.
She celebrated her 100th birthday in 2008 with residents, staff, family and neighbors in St Fionnan's nursing home in Achill.
Like the majority of people of her generation, Norah Gannon emigrated to Scotland in her teens to find work. She met there Joe Jeremiassen, a native of Tromso in Norway, and they got married in 1945. The couple moved to Norway for a number of years and she learned the native tongue.
They returned to Scotland in 1952 and lived in Edinburgh until they retired to Dooniver in 1975. He passed away a year later but Norah Jeremiassen continued to have an active life and often traveled to the UK to visit her nieces and nephews and also made regular trips to the U.S. and Continental Europe.
