Author: Jane Steger-Lewis

Currane Wind Farm

The story so far
A wind farm for Currane?

During the autumn of 2004 Muintir a’Chorráin, the Currane Local Development company, was approached by a developer with an idea for building a wind farm in Currane.

The initial suggestion is to place 15 turbines in an area on the southern side of the Currane Peninsula stretching from Lough Ard to “Three Rivers”. The turbines would be rated at 3MW (mega watt) with a hub height of 65 metres and blade length of 45 metres. Transmission lines will run as far as Newport, where a grid connection can be made. The community, through Muintir a’Chorráin, will have a say in where the turbines are to be positioned. No detailed plan or proposal had been formulated as the developer does not wish to proceed with the project without the backing of the community. In return for this backing, the developer has offered:

• an annual payment of €500,000 (into a trust fund or similar) for the benefit of the community;
• to bring a broadband telecommunications line into the village;
• the opportunity for individuals to invest in the project.

First steps

Having discussed the proposal and feeling that the idea had merit, the Board of Muintir a’Chorráin arranged an open meeting to guage reaction of the community. At this meeting it was clear that the people of Currane were interested in hearing more, so an Open Day was arranged for 27th December 2004. The basic idea for the development was detailed in a series of photographs, maps, texts and an animation. These gave an impression of what the wind farm could look like and explained the principles and technologies involved. Several independent experts were on hand to answer general questions about wind farms.

Following the Open Day, and having given the community some time to consider what they had seen, another open meeting was arranged for 19th February at which the community was asked to raise questions and concerns relating to the development. These, along with several others raised prior to the meeting, are listed below. The Board of Muintir a’Chorráin has passed these questions and concerns to the developer and has arranged a further open meeting to hear the answers. This meeting will take place on Saturday March 19th at 12.30pm in Glór na dTonn. It is hoped that the developer and a panel of experts will be on hand to answer any supplementary questions.
Questions raised by the Currane Community about the proposed wind farm development
To Muintir a’Chorráin:
1. Why should we accept only €500,000? Why not €700,000 or €1,000,000 per annum?
2. How will the wishes of the community be interpreted? For example vote, questionnaire or objectors make themselves known?
3. Will the proposed contribution have any positive or negative impact on the current grant structure in Currane?
4. Have other sources of renewable energies been examined?
To Wind Farm Developer:
1. Is there any guarantee that a financial benefit will accrue to the community? If so, will the financial benefit be fixed, index linked or performance based and how will the guarantee operate? E.g. will money be lodged in an escrow account for future years? Are there any conditions attached? If the financial benefits are performance based what are the methods of measurement?
2. Where would access to the wind farm be from?
3. How (if at all) will the people of Tonragee be involved or affected?
4. Will the transmission lines be over-ground?
5. How can the developer build on the Dickens Estate? Does he plan to purchase or lease the land?
6. Will farmers be compensated for loss of grants?
7. What will happen if the landowner refuses to allow use of the land at some stage in the future?
8. How will people’s bogs and water supplies be protected?
9. Can the number of turbines be limited by contract?
10. Why are the turbines spread out over such a large area? Can they be moved closer together?
11. Have the promoters drawn up a list of limitations and have they considered any possible negative impact on Currane and what might this may be?
12. How might the wind farm in Currane be different from other existing and proposed wind farms in Ireland? Would the proposed scheme in Currane have some competitive advantage over other existing or proposed wind farms?
13. What standards for development and construction would apply?
14. Is the development of the wind farm in Currane to be seen in purely commercial terms i.e. no part of the energy created will be used locally and all output will be sold to the National Grid at the most favourable price?
15. Is it proposed that the development be phased?
16. Will the promoters undertake the development without guaranteed sale of the energy?
17. What contingency plans are in place if the project is not successful? (e.g. dismantling or refinancing )
18. Is there more detailed information on who the promoters are, how they are financed and what levels of experience they have in the development of similar projects?
19. What is the exact structure of the proposed company? Would there be any consequence of sale of shares by the promoters to third parties during or after the construction phase? How will the desires of the community be reconciled with the desires of the shareholders? What guarantee (and mechanism) will there be to ensure that the community has a say in the future behaviour of the company?
20. What percentage of the development cost will accrue to local contractors and labourers during construction? What will the ongoing employment prospects be after the construction phase?

A wind farm for Currane?

Have you heard about the proposed community wind farm project in Currane? The plan is in it’s very early stages at present. To read about what has happened so far, click the link on the right. At the last community meeting on 19/02/05, a number of questions were raised by the community. These questions will be answered at the next community meeting on 19/03/05 at 12.30pm. Read the questions raised. Keep tuned to this site for updates.

’02- ’03

Click below to view the gallery of full-sized pictures.

 

Minister opens Casadh an Taoille

On Monday 21st October, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív, visited Currane to officially open Casadh an Taoille, our Enterprise Centre.
Rain and wind did not deter a large crowd who came to welcome the Minister to the area.
The Minister was officially welcomed by Mícheál Seoighthe, Chairman of Muintir a’Chorráin, who conducted a tour of the facility: the IT Centre, Doctor’s Surgery, meeting room, kitchen & laundry.
Afterwards, in Glór na dTonn, the Chairman spoke about the facility and how it, along with the other amenities that have been developed in the area in the last 15 years, had enhanced the lives of those in the community.
In his reply, the Minister praised Muintir a’Chorráin for the achievements and the sentiments he expressed on the loss of Donncha Ó Gallchobhair were shared by all those present. He acknow-ledged the central role played by Donncha in the develop-ment of the parish and how unselfishly he committed himself in this field when he retired from the national political scene.
The Minister also spoke of the findings from the Gaeltacht Commission’s report. He promised that every help and support would be given to the weak Gaeltachtaí to promote and strengthen the use of Irish there if that was their wish.
To thank him for visiting, Mícheál Seoighthe presented the Minister with a painting, “Daybreak in Currane,” by local artist Jane Steger-Lewis.
After the speeches and presentation, the Minster met with a delegation from Muintir a’Chorráin to discuss the needs of the community, including roads, piers and telecommunications.

Dressing Rooms Fundraising Appeal

Please help us build a place to change!

Sponsor a Block!

In the mid 1990s, thanks to a generous donation from John Griffin, Muintir a’Chorráin were able to purchase the pitch in Bollinglanna on behalf of the community. The pitch provides a safe, well equipped place for anyone in the community to play a range of sports. As well as various Currane teams, it has also played host to Achill Rovers and Mulranny.

But one facility is missing…a place for players to change into their kit before an event, and to shower and change afterwards.

Muintir a’Chorráin, the Currane community development company, hopes to rectify this. Plans have been drawn up for a suitable facility, which will cost in the region of €190,000. We have approached Roinn na Gaeltachta for support in the form of grant aid, and there is a good chance that we will receive 50% of the required sum. Now we need to raise the other €95,000.

We are appealing to the people of Currane, people with roots in Currane and people with an interest in Currane to help.

Various fundraising events are in the planning stages, and details will be released as soon as they are finalised, but you can help us now!

We are asking you to “Sponsor A Block” of the new Dressing Rooms. For €100 you (or your family or group) can become the proud “owner” of one of the concrete blocks that will be used to construct the building.

You will receive a certificate showing your “block number” and your name will be included on a commemorative plaque and on the Appeal website. (If, however, you do not want anyone to know about your generosity, your donation will be treated as “anonymous”).

Please help provide a better facility for our young (and not so young!) sports men and women.

If you can help us, please download, print and complete a donation form (PDF document, requires Acrobat Reader) and return it along with your cheque for €100 (or the equivalent in US$ or UK£). Alternatively you may contact one of the committee members: Mary O’Malley 098-45265, John Joe McNamara 098-45638, Alistair Steger-Lewis 098-45858

Thank you for your help.

 

Dressing Rooms Fundraising Appeal

Muintir a’Chorráin, the Currane Community Development Company, has launched an appeal to raise funds to build dressing room facilities at Griffin Park, the community pitch in Bollinglanna. Various events will be organised but the main venture is to appeal for “sponsors” for each block of the building. Individuals or groups may sponsor one or more blocks for a minimum donation of €100 per block. Click here for further details.