This article is from page 18 of the 2009-06-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
PILLARS of the local community in the Kilmihil area have come out in support of Aonghus Coughlan’s contentious plans for a windfarm at RST tile
The local GAA club and the Kilmi- hil branch of the Irish Farmers’ Asso- ciation (IFA) are two of the organisa- tions that have outlined their support for the planning application.
In his submission, Dick Pilkington
of Kilmihil IFA told Clare County Council: “We believe the site at Kil- tumper is suitable for the proposed development and that the wind farm will make a valuable contribution to- wards providing clean green energy.
“We also support Mr Coughlan’s effort to develop alternative land use on his farmlands, in the current economic climate, it 1s essential that Opportunities such as these are made available to young farmers. We en- courage the generation of renewable
energy on this site and see this as a positive and progressive develop- neon
In a separate submission, Pat Quin- livan, chairman of Kilmihil GAA club confirmed that the club fully backed the project and encouraged such endeavours in the local com- munity.
“Any additional economic activity in the local economy community 1s welcomed along with the obvious benefits to the environment.”
Local soccer club, St Pat’s AFC has also lodged a submission expressing its support for the local initiative.
Hilary Gleeson, Rural Development Officer with the Clare Local Devel- opment Company also offered sup- port and recommended the project as a positive development in the area.
‘The wind turbine project is a posi- tive step in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and creating a cleaner environment using a renewable en- ergy source. Farming in west Clare
requires some type of extra income to keep farmers on the land and both with the economic decline and the falling farm incomes, this project is an ideal opportunity to stimulate work and inject income into the local economy.
“The project will create employ- ment and income for a young west Clare farmer and also jobs in both the construction and maintenance of the project,” the submission con- cluded.