AN ORAL hearing into a planned 50MW wind-farm in South-East Clare has been cancelled at the eleventh hour.
Due to be held on Thursday in Treacy’s Oakwood Hotel in Shannon, the oral hearing was postponed on Tuesday evening.
Aviation issues relevant to Shannon Airport and Woodcock Hill radar station were to be the subject of the oral hearing which was to be staged by An Coimisiún Pleanala (ACP).
Last year, Limerick firm, Ballycar Green Energy lodged plans for the 12 turbine wind-farm to be located 3km northwest of Limerick city. The proposed 140-hectare site is located within the townlands of Cappateemore East, Ballycannan East, Ballycar South, Ballycar North, and Glennagross.
ACP has received 74 third party submissions with the bulk opposed to the wind farm which is proposed for a 105 hectare site neighbouring the townland of Ballycar, north of Meelick in South Clare. The tip height of the wind-turbines is to be 518 feet high and arising from the objections lodged by Shannon Airport and AirNav Ireland, ACP commissioned an independent aviation review by aviation consultancy, Sagentia Aviation.
In the review dated October 28th 2025 Sagentia Aviation has stated that “at this point in time, it is Sagentia Aviation’s view that despite significant engagement, the aviation concerns have not been addressed to the satisfaction of AirNav and the airport”.
Applicants were to address the aviation related issues at the oral hearing with fifteen minutes allocated for AirNav Ireland and Shannon Airport to air their concerns.
Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) who was one of seven individuals listed to give their views at the hearing described the deferral until January as “totally unfair and unacceptable”.
He told The Clare Echo, “I think it’s totally unfair and unacceptable that An Coimisiún Pleanála have decided to postpone this oral hearing at such short notice. Those who were scheduled to participate in Thursday’s oral hearing got less than 48 hours’ notice that it wouldn’t be happening. I have been contacted by many local residents who had booked time off work and some of these people had even taken unpaid leave so they could be in attendance”.
Deputy Crowe continued, “An Coimisiún Pleanála have cited that the reason for this postponement is to allow for the developer and AirNav Ireland to enter further negotiation, but I personally think that this exercise is rather futile, given that both entities have been locked in discussions and negotiations for several years now. I also think that postponement is rather imbalanced as it becomes a powerplay between AirNav Ireland and the developer, whereas other stakeholders are now locked out of this negotiation process.
“I have written to the Chairman of An Coimisiún Pleanála strongly stating my view that the oral hearing should proceed as planned. In particular, I have emphasised that the fact that there is a copious body of evidence arguing the pros and cons of this planning application and this, in itself, should be enough for An Coimisiún Pleanála to make a decision on the matter once and for all without any need for procrastination, postponement or unnecessary delay,” he said.
The developer, Ballycar Green Energy Ltd, was due to make a presentation, with AirNav Ireland, Shannon Airport Authority and local residents expected to give evidence highlighting concerns over aviation safety and air navigation disruption.
A spokeswoman for Ballycar Green Energy has previously stated that the proposed project “would play a central role in Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon economy by 2050”. She said, “If approved, the wind farm has the potential to displace almost two million tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime and will provide the capacity to power more than 30,000 homes”. She pointed out Ballycar Green Energy “will generate a Community Benefit Fund estimated at €3.75m over the first 15 years of operation which could be utilised on sustainable initiatives for the growth and development of the local area”.
