‘It's like a prison fence’: Longford group bring battle against solar farm to Oireachtas

Foigha Solar Farm Concern Group have called on the Government to urgently introduce national planning guidelines for large-scale solar farms and warned that prime food-producing land and rural economies are being put at risk.

Three members of the group Denise Moran, Kieran Ledwith and Damien Mulvihill addressed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage last week and told them a total of 114 householders are directly affected by the proposed project.

The group oppose the proposed project 5km west of Ballymahon and said they fully support renewable energy, but not at the cost of Ireland’s agricultural output, tourism industry and rural identity.

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Foigha Solar Farm Ltd, a subsidiary of BayWa r.e. Ireland, lodged a planning application in December 2024 to develop a solar farm - with panels with a typical height of 2.44 metres - on a 321 acres site in the townlands of Cornacarta, Doonacurry, Foygh, Kilcommock Glebe, Ledwithstown and Tirlickeen.

In September, BNRG Ballymahon Limited, an Irish-owned leader in clean renewable energy, in partnership with Plan Energy Developments, lodged plans with local authority planning officials for a 270 acre solar farm two kilometres northwest of Ballymahon.

Denise addressed Oireachtas members on behalf of the group and spoke about the lack of regulation and concerns over a detrimental impact on tourism in the area. 

"I have to say that in general, everybody, all of the senators and TDs who came in to talk and ask questions, were very against the fact that there was no regulations and it was encouraging.

"They understand people's point of view, that at least if there are rules and regulations and policies, you know where you stand but as it currently stands, there are none. "

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Denise, who lives in her home with her partner, said the proposed Foigha solar farm is just eight metres from her back door, while the proposed BNRG solar farm is only two kilometres away.

"My problem is the plan that they put in, I don't exactly know where the panels are going. 

"By law, there is a kind of European saying they can't be any closer than 20 metres. But they haven't put in exact details.

"So, for instance, on all those solar farms, [they] put up a big, massive fence.

"And that big, massive fence with CCTV on it, has lights on it, there's a whole lot of security fences. 

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"It's huge, it's like a prison fence and I don't know how close that is to the eight metres distance."

The group informed Oireachtas members  with more than 1,000 acres of solar proposals already lodged in South Longford — in the absence of national guidelines — communities are being left to 'absorb the consequences of planning decisions that could last for generations'.

Denise told Oireachtas members that renewables must be planned and not imposed and climate action cannot come with permanent damage to Ireland’s ability to produce food, sustain rural jobs, or protect communities.

The group outlined five essential actions for Government, which includes creating a national strategy to guide suitable locations and protect rural economies, requiring early and meaningful community consultation and enforcing proper siting rules to protect homes, tourism, heritage and habitats.

Denise said they also want the Government to safeguard productive agricultural land as a strategic national resource and assess the cumulative impact of multiple energy developments in one region.

They said alternatives exist, and include 'brownfield sites  existing infrastructure corridors — options that protect rural land.

Denise said the group were grateful  for the opportunity to present their concerns and they felt the meeting with the Committee went extremely well. 

"We are grateful for the constructive engagement, and especially thank Deputy Micheál Carrigy for inviting us to represent the communities affected by these developments.”

They concluded by reaffirming that Ireland can achieve climate targets while protecting rural livelihoods — but only with proper planning and national oversight.

Also read: Longford residents to battle against controversial solar plan

Longford County Council made the decision to grant planning permission to Foigha Solar Farm  Ltd  in September for the large solar farm and energy storage compound, which 'devastated' local residents.

The Foigha Solar Farm Concern group, who had submitted an objection claimed the construction process would pose serious health and safety risks for residents and tourists and they are appealing the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála.