Naas residents protest against data centres at Dublin demo
Residents represented Primrose Garden and Jigginstown areas in Naas
A representative of the Naas-based campaign group opposing further data centre developments has spoken out following a major national protest in Dublin, calling on local politicians to listen to residents' concerns over the proposed development at Jigginstown.
Lesley Cowper, representing Primrose Garden, Jigginstown, Naas, joined thousands of protesters who took to Dublin city centre on Saturday, November 8, for International Data Centre Protest Day.
The demonstration saw large crowds march along O'Connell Street towards Dáil Éireann.
Naas residents played a prominent role in the demonstration, with the banner leading the national march created by members of the local community. Residents came together during the week before the protest to paint and sew the banner, an effort coordinated by the Kildare Data Centre Awareness Group.
Speaking afterwards, Ms Cowper said the Naas contingent had sacrificed their Saturday to attend the demonstration, travelling by bus from outside Our Lady and St David's Church on the Sallins Road.
She described the atmosphere as excellent, with protesters receiving unexpected cheers of support from passers-by and tourists.
The banner carried the message "No More Data Centres", a slogan Ms Cowper said was intended to make clear that the campaign was not opposed to data centres altogether, but rather to further developments.
She highlighted concerns about Ireland's growing data centre sector, claiming the country already had 107 data centres, the largest number in the EU, despite what she described as a much smaller national requirement.
The march towards Dáil Éireann also provided an opportunity for Naas residents to hear from communities elsewhere in Ireland facing similar concerns about proposed data centre developments, including Drogheda, Ennis and Killmeaden.
Ms Cowper said the experiences shared by other campaign groups reinforced the concerns being raised by residents in Naas.
Ms Cowper also raised concerns about the potential implications of changes in the American data centre and artificial intelligence sectors, suggesting that any slowdown in construction in the United States could increase pressure to accelerate developments in countries such as Ireland.
She called on elected representatives to take a stronger role in scrutinising proposals and ensuring that the interests of local communities were protected.
She also urged the Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen its scrutiny of reports and assessments submitted in connection with data centre applications, referring to concerns raised by the Ennis Data Centre Campaign Group about documentation associated with the Herbata Naas submission.
Concluding her statement, Ms Cowper said the Naas residents' campaign remained determined to have its concerns heard, adding that the community believed its position on the issue had been justified.