ROSCOMMON HERALD TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2014 NEWS FEATURE 31

RURAL IRELAND looks set topay the price for electricitypylons and wind turbinesbeing foisted on localcommunities against theirwill.

Private and State-ownedcompanies are poised toinvest millions of euro inrural Ireland and indeed inCounty Roscommon.

EirGrid plans to build ahigh capacity power linethrough County Roscommon,while several wind energycompanies are also hoping tomake their mark on thelandscape through a numberof planned wind farms.

Hundreds of jobs arepromised, at least in theconstruction phase. Theinvestment will facilitategreater regional developmentand pave the way for more jobcreation. So what’s not to like?

Multimillion euroinvestments are ordinarily agood news story. In this case,however, there is growingdissent among communitiesright across the country overwhat many feel is awillingness to sacrifice ourrural landscape for corporategain.

Plans to develop 140 foottall electricity pylons and 600foot tall wind turbines acrossthe country will bring hugeprofits for private and State-owned companies but atwhose expense?

Those forced to live besidethese imposing and toweringstructures will merely becollateral damage.

From Ballinameen toBallaghaderreen, fromMoygownagh in Mayo toNavan in Meath, fromKingscourt in Cavan toKilcullen in Kildare,

communities share commonconcerns over plans todevelop a series of highcapacity overhead power linesacross the country.

Possible impacts on healthremain open to debate but theprospect of propertydevaluation presents a veryreal and credible concern forhomeowners forced to livewithin 50 metres of theseelectricity towers.

There are also concernsthat more pylons will lead togreater rural depopulation,will impact on farming, andwill also detract from localefforts to develop tourism.

The solution, according tocampaigners, is to gounderground, as this willeliminate all of theseconcerns.

It is also clear thatEirGrid’s plans to upgrade thenational electricity grid willfacilitate the development ofwind farms across the rurallandscape, as set out ingovernment policy.

A renewable energystrategy for 2012-2020 makesno secret of the government’sambitions to harness ourwind resources so thatIreland can become a majorexporter of renewable energy.

EirGrid has also concededthat connecting wind farms tothe grid is a driving forcebehind the €240 millionState-funded Grid Westproject.

While renewable energydevelopers and prospectorsare incentivised through taxrelief and other governmentinitiatives, communities areleft to their own devices.

There are no financialincentives or funds forcommunities to challengewhat they see as the‘industrialisation’ of theirproperty and rural Ireland.

Legislation favoursstrategic infrastructuredevelopments. Planningregulations are open tointerpretation. But who looksout for the citizen and theirproperty rights? The simpleanswer is that they must andthat people power may betheir only option.

Rural Ireland to paythe price for pylonsand wind farms

OPINION

BY MARESA FAGANmaresa.fagan@roscommonherald.com

PEOPLEPOWER

Frank Mulligan andMichael Roddylandowners from Grange,Boyle who have led afourteen year battleagainst overhead powerlines in their area.

PEOPLEPOWER

ROSCOMMON HERALD TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2014 NEWS FEATURE 33TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2014 ROSCOMMON HERALDNEWS FEATURE32

AS RESISTANCE to a series of electricity power lineprojects grows nationally, local campaigners believethat landowners are prepared to go to jail rather thanallow pylons on their land.

That’s according to Niall Frain, a member ofBallaghaderreen against Pylons and the Roscommonand Mayo against Pylons umbrella group (RAMP).

Speaking to the Herald Mr Frain said that given thestrength of opposition to the Grid West plans hebelieved that farmers and landowners were “definitely”prepared to go to jail on the issue.

EirGrid, he said, had not allayed the concerns of localpeople over the possible health impacts, propertydevaluation, and threat to farming and tourism sectors.

“People are afraid for their own health and safety. ...Years ago there was an issue over asbestos and reportswere done to say that it was safe. Nowadays it’s not.We’re more scientifically advanced in this day and ageand we can see there are scientific reports on existingpower lines to show that people are affected,” Mr Frainsaid.

Mr Frain said that many landowners were signingforms of authority, which prevented EirGrid frommaking direct contact with them.

This tactic, he explained, had many advantages forthe campaign and for landowners: “This will have theeffect of delaying the process but will also providegreater transparency in terms of EirGrids dealings withlandowners and farmers.”

As EirGrid opened a new information office inBallaghaderreen last Wednesday local campaignerssignalled that they would stage a protest outside theinformation centre.

If national protests follow, Mr Frain added thatpeople were prepared to travel to make their voiceheard on the issue.

Landownersprepared to go to jail

THERE ARE no national or Europeanguidelines on long-term EMF exposure,according to campaigners in Boyle, who aretaking a new petition to Europe on the issue.

A small group of landowners in the Boyle areaare continuing to challenge the development ofa 200kv overhead power line in their area,which resulted in pylons being built on theirland, or near their land, against their wishes.

The campaigners say there are no guidelinesfor chronic or long-term exposure toElectromagnetic Fields (EMF) or for the non-thermal effects of EMF.

Michael and Martina Roddy, along with otherconcerned neighbours and residents in the Boyleand Sligo border area, have already taken apetition to Europe challenging the ESB’scompliance with planning requirements onenvironmental impact.

Now they are poised to take a second petitionto Europe challenging the absence of guidelineson long-term exposure to EMF.

“In 2001 the European Parliament concludedthat the guidelines, such as those issued by theInternational Commission on Non-IonisingRadiation Protection, afford no protection,”Frank Mulligan, one of the local landownersinvolved in the ongoing campaign, said.

“There are guidelines for acute or short-termexposure but not for chronic long-termexposure or for non-thermal effects. Theguidelines published by the ESB or EirGrid arefor acute thermal effects and do not relate tochronic exposure from transmission lines,” headded.

The bone of contention, the group ofconcerned landowners add, is the mode oftransmission and they remain supportive ofpower lines going underground.

No guidelines onlong-term EMFexposure

A group protesting inside EirGrid’s new office in Ballaghaderreen.

CAMPAIGNERS OPPOSED to the development of anoverhead power line through counties Roscommonand Mayo are considering joining forces with othergroups across the country.

As pressure mounts nationally for electricity powerlines to go underground, an umbrella grouprepresenting communities along the proposedGridWest power line in counties Roscommon andMayo has signalled that it will consider joining forceswith other groups in the country.

Rupert Davis of Roscommon and Mayo againstPylons (RAMP) confirmed that the committeeintended to discuss the possibility of uniting withother campaign groups in the coming weeks.

RAMP may join forces withother groups nationally

(Above) Young protesters outside EirGrid’s newoffice in Ballaghaderreen last week.

(Left) Patrick and Dermot McHale protesting outsideEirGrid’s new office in Ballaghaderreen last week.

THE GOVERNMENT’Sdismissal of publicconcerns over plans tobuild overhead powerlines in CountyRoscommon andelsewhere has beenslammed as “totalarrogance” by CllrRachel Doherty.

“We have seen anoutrageous attempt byboth the Taoiseach andMinister Rabbitte tocompletely dismisspeople’s concerns andquestions about theconstruction of hugepylons in their area,”Cllr Doherty said.

“It’s becomingincreasingly clear thatany ‘publicconsultation’ is just asham - they intend topress ahead with thelarge scale constructionof overhead power linesregardless of whatcommunities think,”the Fianna Fáilcouncillor added.

Cllr Doherty saidthat the linking ofemigration to thedebate by theTaoiseach was“outrageous” and“nothing more thanscaremongering”.

“This disgracefulattitude from theTaoiseach and MinisterRabbitte clearlydemonstrates thatsenior government hasno intention oflistening tocommunities about thehealth, economic andsocial consequences ofthese overhead powerlines here inRoscommon and otherparts of the countryaffected. They have nointention of evenconsidering relocatingpower lines in certainareas. How can peoplehave any trust in anobjective ‘publicconsultation’ process?”she concluded.

THE GOVERNMENT hasfailed in its obligations toprotect the landscapewhen considering largescale infrastructureprojects, such as overheadpower lines, An Taisce haswarned.

The environmentalwatchdog this weekhighlighted the Statesinability to assess theimpact of significantinfrastructuredevelopments, such asoverhead power lines, onthe landscape.

The State has failed tocomply with the EuropeanLandscape Convention byputting in place nationallegislation, policy orguidelines to protect our

landscape, An Taisce said.“The State has failed to

set a clear methodologyfor how landscape shouldbe assessed, protected andmanaged. With no morethan vague policies, andlacking legislative tools, itis difficult to guide theprocess. With the failureto comply with theEuropean LandscapeConvention, there is nobasis to assess the impactof the proposal on thelandscape,” theenvironmental watchdogsaid.

The environmentalbody, however, said thatthe development of anational energy policycould address such issues.

MINISTER FOR EnergyPat Rabbitte and TaoiseachEnda Kenny have comeunder fire from Sinn FéinCllr Michael Mulligan forattempting to undermineand influence theconsultation process onelectricity pylons.

Cllr Mulligan wasreferring to recent claimsby Minister Rabbitte thatplacing pylonsunderground could add 3%per year for 50 years todomestic electricity bills.

“This represents a lastminute attempt toinfluence what has beenfrom the start a flawedconsultation process,” hesaid, calling on the Ministerto provide evidence to backup his claim.

Cllr Mulligan said the

consultation process was“merely window dressing”and that EirGrid and theMinister were not givingdue consideration toevidence and research infavour of undergroundingpower lines.

He also accusedTaoiseach Enda Kenny ofusing emigration as ameans to “blackmailcommunities” intoaccepting the pylons.

“That is surely ironiccoming from the head of agovernment that haspresided over massemigration of young peoplefrom rural communities.He refers to futureemployment prospects butlike Minister Rabbitteprovides no evidence forhis claims,” he said.

Mulligan hits out at Minister andTaoiseach for pylon comments

Government fails in duty toprotect landscape – An Taisce

Doherty slams ‘arrogant’government stance on pylons

As resistance to a series ofelectricity power line projects growsnationally, campaigners in CountyRoscommon believe that landownersare prepared to go to jail rather thanallow pylons on their land. HereMMAARREESSAA FFAAGGAANN looks at thedebate, gets reaction from all sidesand speaks to one family thatcontinues the fighteven though thepylons have beenerected close to theirhome.

ELECTRICITY PYLONS continueto be the bane of one Boyle family’sexistence, as they continue theirfight to protect their property andhealth.

Fourteen years on since plans forthe 220kv Flagford to Srananaghline were first unveiled and Martinaand Michael Roddy, from Grange,Boyle are still fighting a David andGoliath battle.

They are among a small numberof landowners in the Boyle area,who fiercely resisted plans for a200kv overhead power line beingrouted through their community.

While two pylons have since beenbuilt on their land, against theirwishes, their battle with EirGridand the ESB is far from over.

A little battle-weary after years ofsearching for the truth and takingtheir case to the courts and toEurope, they and their neighbourshave not given up in their quest toprotect their properties and health.

Their experience is aforewarning to other farmers andlandowners, who may face a similarbattle with State-owned entities.The Roddy’s never consented to apylon being built on their land but aHigh Court injunction secured bythe ESB in 2010 left them with nooption but to give way or face jail.

The company’s actionsamounted to “sheer bullying”,according to Martina. “There is nodoubt in my mind that they’d havejailed the two of us. So what kind ofan option is that? They got theirway but how did they get it. We hadno option at all but we still neversigned or took their money,” shesaid.

Martina stressed that thecommunity had not benefited inany way since the 200kv line wentlive in 2012 - no jobs had come tothe area and all they had seen wasproperty devaluation, noisepollution, stress and worry.

“I wouldn’t wish it on anybody tobe honest because of the noise andthe worry of it,” she explained.

“I don’t sleep as well as I did, butcan you blame the lines for that? Ithink it’s the stress and worry about

the lines, that they are so close toour home. The buzzing isunbelievable; it’s like a planehovering in the distance,” sheadded.

The potential health implicationsof living within 100 metres of anelectricity pylon continues to posegreat concern for the Roddy’s.

“Apart from the visual impactand property devaluation, we haveongoing concerns about health andsafety. The pylons and line arecausing a disturbance to our lives24 hours a day because we don’tknow when the noise or buzzing isgoing to come,” Martina said.

“The experts tell us there arehealth issues because ofelectromagnetic fields generated by

pylons and there have been links toleukaemia in children and that hasbeen a concern for us. This hasbeen going on since our son wasborn and he’s now 14,” she added.

The farming family never soughtor received compensation andtoday continue to seek clarificationon a number of issues relating tothe unwanted pylons on their land.

They noted that insurancecompanies would not indemnify forelectromagnetic fields (EMF) andthey also question who wasresponsible for any potential ill-effects or property devaluation.

“We didn’t want these pylons onour land yet we cannot getinsurance against EMF,” Martinasaid.

“We cannot get clarity aboutwho’s responsible for the line. If, 10to 20 years down the road, aneighbour takes a case for propertydevaluation or on health grounds,who’s responsible? As far as we cansee it’s the landowner,” she added.

The couple also urge other

landowners and farmers toconsider the long-termconsequences of facilitating anoverhead power line.

The prospect of compensationmay prove attractive for somelandowners but Michael urgesthose approached by EirGrid to erron the side of caution. “I’d advisepeople to take a long-term view.The few pound that you get today,it’ll be gone, you’ll spend it but thepylons will be there indefinitely, foryou and future generations,”Michael said.

Martina also warned thatfarmers couldn’t plant or use a 200foot wide corridor where pylonswere built. Landowners may alsobe eligible for compensation forsites with outline planningpermission near a power line butthe site, Martina advised, wouldeffectively be made redundant. “Aburden is attached to the site oncethe deed of easement is signed bythe landowner and that burden iscarried ad infinitim,” she explained.

The pylon issue has taken upmore than a decade of their lives todate but the couple remain resolutein the quest for answers.

Having learnt much along theway, they advise others facing asimilar battle to unite in numbersand stick together.

“If we were starting out again wewould know far more. You reallyneed a good tight group that won’tsplit. If people unite and standtogether there’s not much EirGridcan do to them as such,” Michaelsaid.

“What is EirGrid going to do ifall landowners resist? Are theygoing to jail all landowners?”Martina added.

Farming family say insuranceand accountability issues remainBoyle family continues tofight pylons 14 years on

The Roddy family farm at Grange, Boyle where a 200kv overhead power line was routed their land without consent leading to a fourteenyear battle. Pic. Mary Regan

the few poundthat you get

today, it’ll be gone, you’llspend it but the pylons willbe there indefinitely, for youand future generations’

– Michael Roddy

“

I wouldn’t wish iton anybody to be

honest because of the noiseand the worry of it’

– Martina Roddy“Michael Roddy and Frank Mulligan are fearful of the potential health implications of living within 100metres of an electricity pylon and they want to see power lines going underground. Pic. Mary Regan

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2014 ROSCOMMON HERALDNEWS FEATURE34

EIRGRID IS set to carry out acost-benefit analysis of puttingthe proposed Grid West lineunderground and overgroundbut looks set to opt for anoverhead line as the bestsolution.

The manager for the GridWest project has ruled out theprospect of the line goingunderground confirming to theHerald that he would proposethat the line went overgroundas the “best solution”.

Grid West project managerSean Meagher defended theState-owned company’s plans tobuild a new 400Kv overheadpower line between Flagford,County Roscommon andMoygownagh, County Mayo.

“I will be proposing anoverhead line solution because itis the best solution for theregion and for the economy,” hesaid.

He confirmed that thecompany will carry out a cost-benefit analysis of building anoverhead and underground line,which will be made availablebefore the project goes toplanning.

Mr Meagher said he fullyheard the request for the line togo underground but that hebelieved that this would offer aninferior solution.

“When you compare onetechnology to the other the mostappropriate solution for theregion, in terms of reliable,secure, safe power that willattract industry, will be anoverhead line solution,” he said.

“An underground solutiondoesn’t actually bring the samebenefits as an overhead linesolution in terms of maintainingand attracting industry. Costsaside, the technical issues alwaysstack up in favour of an

overhead line solution,” headded.

He pointed out that there wasno high capacity power supplywest of the Shannon and thatthe region would benefiteconomically through increasedinward investment and jobcreation.

“When you have thisinfrastructure in place, the Westwill compete where they aren’tcompeting at the moment interms of inward directinvestment. If an industry sets

up or an existing industryexpands those jobs are to thebenefit of the local people, so it’snot just industry that willbenefit,” he said.

Facilitating wind energyconnections to the grid, such asa 650 megawatt wind farm inNorth West Mayo, is also drivingthe Grid West project. “Thedriver for Grid West is therenewable energy that’s thereand needs to be connected tothe system,” he said, adding thatEirGrid had a statutory

obligation to connect suchprojects to the electricity grid.

The line will also facilitatefibre optic cabling, which theESB will lease to broadbandproviders.

Mr Meagher said the projectwas at a critical stage and urgedmembers of the public toengage with the company as itmoved closer to identifyingwhere pylons and substationswould be located.

The company is currentlycontacting landowners along the

preferred route and said thatwhile some had engaged in theconsultation process, others haddeclined to do so at this stage.

“It ranges from people whosay we don’t want to talk to younow to others who have invitedus out onto their land; it varies,we’ve seen the full spectrum,”he said.

“Engaging with us anddiscussing the best line routedoesn’t mean that someonesupports the project. ... Notengaging with us is not really tomy benefit or anyone’s benefit,”he said, adding that thereremained “significant wriggleroom” to move the line withinthe one kilometre preferredcorridor.

The next step in the processwill see EirGrid publishing aStage 2 report in the summerthat will outline the ‘indicative’

route with proposed substationand tower locations.

Members of the public will beinvited to make submissions onthe indicative line prior to theroute being finalised and goingto planning in early 2015.

Other power line projects inthe county and elsewhere haveprompted legal battles and onoccasion have seen landownersgo to jail because of their refusalto allow ESB access on theirland.

Mr Meagher, however,insisted that the company wouldseek to secure agreement withall landowners along the route.

“That’s not somewhere I wantto be and I will work my bestand hardest to make sure that Iaddress, to the best I can, anyissues or concerns that peopleor landowners may have,” hesaid.

“There will be acompensation package forlandowners or anyone directlyaffected by the infrastructure.There will be a community gainfund for the locality, which I willensure is ring-fenced for thecommunities along the line. Iwill work with all landowners tocome up with the best solutionfor the project andaccommodate their wishes asbest I can,” he added.

UNDERGROUND OPTION WILL BE COSTED

PLANS BY EirGrid to developa number of new high capacitypower lines across the countryshould be independentlyassessed on a cost-benefitbasis before commencement,according to IndependentMEP Marian Harkin.

Ms Harkin took Minister forJobs Richard Bruton to taskfor suggestions that the cost ofundergrounding cables wouldprevent more balancedregional development.

“Mr Bruton’s words ringhollow. This push has a lot

more to do with exportingwind energy than withbalanced regionaldevelopment,” she said.

“The Minister is conflatingtwo issues, balanced regionaldevelopment, as a policy inits own right, and his

suggestion thatundergrounding of cables insome way prevents itsdelivery. This is not an honestassessment of the situationand Minister Bruton knowsthis,” she added.

Ms Harkin said that the

cost to the farming andtourism sectors had not beenassessed and that EirGridsplans for a number of newpower lines should beindependently assessedbefore progressing anyfurther. “The people must be

consulted on the €3.2 billionof their money currentlyenvisaged for theconstruction of a series ofelectricity transmissionprojects. Anything less istotally unacceptable,” MsHarkin concluded.

Independent cost-benefit analysis on power line plans needed before project commences – Harkin

A new centre providinginformation on the proposedGrid West power line opened inBallaghaderreen last week.

EirGrid opened aninformation office at TheSquare, Ballaghaderreen tomeet the demand forinformation on the Grid Westplans.

The office will open from10a.m. to 6p.m. everyWednesday and Thursday forthe next year or more.

Members of the projectteam will also be available tomeet members of the public atother times. Meetings can bearranged by appointment bycalling 1890 940802.

New EirGridinformation office

an undergroundsolution doesn’t

actually bring the samebenefits as an overhead line solution in terms ofmaintaining and attractingindustry’

– Sean Meagher

“I will work withall landowners

to come up with the bestsolution for the project and accommodate theirwishes as best I can’

– Sean Meagher

“

(Above) Map ofthe proposedroute of theEirGrid line.

(Left) MariaFleming andMartina Lavinchecking out themap insideEirGrid’s newoffice inBallaghaderreen.

Grid West line will not go underground

ROSCOMMON HERALD TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2014 NEWS FEATURE 35

FÁILTE IRELAND has thisweek confirmed that nosubmissions have yet beenmade on proposals to developa 400kv overhead power linein the western region.

The national tourism body,which recently made asubmission on plans byEirGrid to develop a newpower line in the South East,has indicated that it will make

a submission on the Grid Westplans at a later date.

In a submission on theGridlink plans for the SouthEast, Fáilte Ireland raisedconcerns that the developmentof an overhead power linelinking Cork to Wexford andKildare could haveimplications for the tourismsector. The Irish landscape,Fáilte Ireland said, had been

the cornerstone ofinternational tourismmarketing campaigns fordecades.

“International visitors toIreland consistently ratescenery as an importantreason for their trip.Therefore as the Irishlandscape is one of theprimary reasons for visitingthe country, it is essential that

the quality, character anddistinctiveness of this valuableresource be protected,” thegovernment agency stated inits submission.

This week Fáilte Irelandconfirmed to the Herald that ithad not yet made a similarassessment or submission onthe Grid West project, whichwill link Flagford in CountyRoscommon with

Moygownagh in County Mayo.The agency said it does not

comment or makesubmissions on all projectsgiven the volume of proposalsbeing made but that it intendsto make a submission on theGrid West project at theplanning stage.

“In a few cases, we providecomments at an earlier stagein the development process. In

such cases, the potential of anytourism impacts on cases canbe brought to our attention bythird parties, which was thecase with Gridlink - we willhowever examiner theproposals for the Grid Westproject once a planningapplication is lodged with AnBord Pleanála in due course,”a spokesperson for FáilteIreland said.

Fáilte Ireland to make Grid West submission at planning stage

A CAMPAIGN opposing plans to build a 400kvoverhead power line through counties Roscommonand Mayo has the potential to become “bigger thanthe Land League”. That’s according to Labourlocal election candidate and member ofBallaghaderreen against Pylons Michael Frain.

“This is going to be bigger than the LandLeague, it has the hallmarks of being so. Thebiggest mistake that EirGrid has made is that theyhave upset 19 out of the 26 counties at the onetime,” Mr Frain said.

“Land is so personal to people. It’s not so longago, it’s in our grandparent’s time, when peoplewere put out on the road, so it’s still very raw,” headded.

People, he said, see plans to develop overheadpower lines and massive wind farm projects acrossour landscape, as the “jackboot of thegovernment”.

Instead of bringing jobs, Mr Frain said the plansfor an overhead line threatened the viability of thetourism sector on which rural Ireland was heavilyreliant on.

“People are leaving areas of Europe where thereare pylons to come to the natural beauty of theWest of Ireland, that is our biggest industry. Sorather than creating jobs or preventing emigrationthis is going to cost jobs in the tourism andhospitality sector,” he said.

Mr Frain said that the region did not need morepower and pointed out that he, along with SenatorJohn Kelly, had lobbied for natural gas to come tothe area but were told that there was no economicargument for this.

He also pointed out that the largest commercialuser of energy in the west - Connacht Gold (nowAurivo) - was forging ahead with its own plans tobuild a biomass plant to meet its high energydemands.

“There are plans for 200 wind turbines alongthe Mayo coast but the amount of power you’retalking about there, you could bring it in on aclothesline,” he added.

LABOUR SENATOR John Kelly hasthrown down the gauntlet togovernment to show what jobs willbe created in the western region onfoot of a proposed new 400kv powerline.

The Ballaghaderreen-basedSenator challenged his own party’sposition on plans to developoverhead power lines across thecountry at the expense of ruralcommunities.

“Show us the jobs; there are nojobs,” Senator Kelly said, adding thatthe region had enough power.

“If Enda Kenny and RichardBruton, who are proclaiming thatthis is about job creation, if theywant to sell that to people let themfirst of all come to the people and sayfor example, in Charlestown we’regoing to put a factory in there andemploy x amount of people. Then letthe people decide if they want to payfor the undergrounding or if theywant it overground,” he said.

He called on the Health MinisterJames Reilly to be brought into thedebate given that the Minister hadexpressed concerns over the East-

West Connector project in his ownconstituency. In 2012 Minister Reillywrote to Energy Minister PatRabbitte and Environment MinisterPhil Hogan seeking clarification onpotential “health concerns”, whichhad been brought to his attention, inparticular an increased risk ofchildhood leukaemia due to lowfrequency magnetic fields.

Senator Kelly also warned that hisown party and Fine Gael could sufferin the local elections and that other“political ramifications” could alsofollow unless the concerns of rural

communities were taken on board.Putting the proposed lineunderground, he added, would allaythe issues of concern.

The strength of opposition toplans to build pylons and windturbines in rural communities,Senator Kelly said, could see hoardsof people taking to the streets ofDublin before Easter.

“This could be one of the biggestdemonstrations ever to take to thestreets of Dublin when the windturbine and pylon groups cometogether from all over the country

because they are inextricablylinked,” he said.

Meanwhile Senator Kellywelcomed calls for the governmentto establish an Energy Policy Forummodelled on the ConstitutionalConvention. “The energy policy mustnow be revisited, reviewed andradically revised, so that localcommunities are given a meaningfulopportunity to have a say in thiscrucial issue. The establishment ofan Energy Policy Forum, as mootedby Senator Whelan, is the obviousway forward,” he said.

Pylon issue couldbe ‘bigger than theLand League’

Senator Kelly throws the gauntlet down to government to ‘show us the jobs’

Paul Cole speaks to an EirGrid staff member in the Ballaghaderreenoffice..

Sinn Féin Councillors Gerry Murry and Michael Mulliganinside EirGrid’s office in Ballaghaderreen.

Cllr Michael Mulligan and an EirGrid staff member discuss theGrid West project.

An EirGrid staff member is confronted by protesters.