Rural Ireland vs Wind Turbines: the injustice facing Rural Ireland due to wind farm developments

Critical Ecologies

Kilraneghlan Hill looks over the rural village of Kiltegan in West Wicklow. The hill is home to a graveyard, flora and fauna, and many historical sites. In 2021, residents were informed of plans for the hill to become a wind farm development site, with planning permission requested for 5 wind turbines to be installed on the hill. Using the concepts of NIMBYism and place attachment, MA student Lucy Dunne helps us to gain a better understanding of why the residents in this area fought so hard to get the planning permission turned down. Furthermore, exploring Irelands over reliance on fossil fuels as the main energy source throughout the country and engage with the possibility of wind energy as the new provider of energy in Ireland. The impact wind farms are having on biodiversity in rural Ireland is a key debate in Ireland and one which is discussed in this podcast. Finally, a discussion is also had on the role that planners within the County Councils in Ireland are having on the development of wind farm development projects.

[Apologies for poor sound quality]