Scale of proposed Leitrim wind farm 'is like nothing we would have ever seen in the area before'

A proposal for a 14‑turbine wind farm on Dough Mountain, just outside Manorhamilton in County Leitrim, has sparked strong local opposition. The development, put forward by Dublin‑based FuturEnergy Ireland, has been fast‑tracked as a renewable energy project and is now being considered by An Coimisiún Pleanála. A five‑week consultation period has been opened for residents to submit concerns before the commission makes its decision.

Save Dough Mountain Group, a local campaign organisation, has voiced its opposition to the scheme. Darren Sweeney, the group’s chairman, told the media that the project “is not anti‑wind in principle” but that the scale of the development is “not insignificant” for the area. He added that the wind farm would change a “pristine environment” that is a peatland carbon sink and that the community feels “pushed around” over the last number of years in relation to national targets. Sweeney said the group is “not anti‑wind” in principle, but that the scale of the project is “like nothing we would have ever seen in the area before”.

The proposed wind farm would sit on Dough Mountain, a location that is “crowned by dough Mountain” according to local residents. The 14 turbines would be positioned close to Manorhamilton, a town that has long been a focal point for discussions about renewable energy in the region. The group has highlighted concerns about the impact on local wildlife, noting that the area is a carbon sink because of its peatland and that the development could affect species that live there.

The consultation process has been criticised by a North Leitrim group for a perceived lack of engagement. The group said that the planning application had been fast‑tracked and that the community had not been adequately consulted. They also expressed that the scale of the project would have a significant visual and environmental impact on the surrounding countryside.

The commission’s decision will be made after the five‑week consultation period, during which residents are encouraged to lodge their concerns. The outcome will determine whether the wind farm proceeds, and whether the local community’s concerns are taken into account.

For more details, see the Leitrim Observer and Newstalk coverage.

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