Funnyman Tommy Tiernan is among hundreds of objectors to plans for a €1.4bn wind farm comprising “30 Eiffel Tower-sized turbines” off the Connemara coast, writes Gordon Deegan.

The TV chat show host is one of 177 third parties to lodge submissions with An Bord Pleanála on the plan to construct the 450 MW wind farm with 30 turbines over 1,000 feet high in the Atlantic Ocean.

Renewable energy firm Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta is planning to construct its Sceirde Rocks Windfarm on waters located 5km to 11.5km off the west coast with Carna in Galway the nearest settlement.

The planned offshore wind farm is to power 350,000 Irish homes, save an estimated 550,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, and invest up to €70m in local community initiatives.

The wind turbines are to reach a top height of 325 metres – just short of the 330-metre-tall Eiffel Tower in Paris.

In his objection, Mr Tiernan wrote: “I’m objecting to the proposed offshore wind farm near Carna, Connemara, Co. Galway on the grounds of desecration of that area of natural beauty.”

The actor, comedian and podcaster said: “Culture is judged on how it protects areas and ideals such as this.

“Allowing such a project to go ahead when there are many more suitable sites either much further offshore or inland would be a totally irresponsible and disgusting thing to do.”

He said: “There has to be more to our country than a utilitarian exploitation of where we live.”

Independent TD for Galway West Catherine Connolly has told the appeals board: “I have received numerous representations from a diverse range of people expressing their very serious concerns about the proposed development.”

Ms Connolly said that she supports the call for an oral hearing and highlighted the scale and number of wind turbines in her submission.

The Carna-based Connemara Coastal Protection community group has told the appeals board that it has concerns over the impact on a person “looking out on a horizon of 30 Eiffel Tower-sized turbines in the middle of an area of outstanding natural beauty”.

The objection states, “there is concern of a possible loss of value in property assets due to the industrialisation of this beautiful landscape”.

Mary Bates, Carna resident and MacDara Films founder, said: “The overwhelming size and height of the wind farm so close to the shoreline represents the largest destruction of an Irish coastline to date”.

Paula Ní Chualáin of Mainis, Carna, told the appeals board: “These turbines will tower over us as they will be 5km from our home.

“The prospect of constant shadow flicker in our home, where we planned to make the most of the sun and natural light, is frightening.

“The silent and dark skies will be gone, replaced by 30 flashing red lights on the turbines and the noise pollution from the blades.”

The parents’ committee of Scoil Cholmáin, Muigh Inis, said parents chose the school for their children for its peaceful environment, stunning landscape and strong connection to nature.

They said “the introduction of industrial scale wind-turbines directly outside the school threaten to severely undermine these benefits”.

The Galway and Aran Fisherman’s Co-operative is also objecting, claiming the proposed development and cable infrastructure “has the capacity to wreck productive fishing grounds and are a real threat to the sustainability of the stock of Nephrops (Norwegian lobster)”.

The objection states that fishermen are now threatened with the loss of their legitimate business.

Connemara Conservation CLG is also opposed and is represented by well-known Dublin-based environmental and planning lawyer Fred Logue, who said “the application should be refused by the board”.

Connemara Chamber of Commerce and Connemara Organic Seaweed have lodged submissions in support of the planned offshore wind farm.

The wind farm applicant company is a joint venture between the Australian-based Macquarie Group and global infrastructure investor, the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board (OTPPB).

On lodging the plans in January, Michael Cloherty, stakeholder manager for Sceirde Rocks Windfarm, said: “This planning application marks the culmination of around three years of surveying, data analysis and community engagement activity.

“We have worked closely with the local community to design a project which we believe will deliver on their needs and expectations and we are grateful to everyone who met with our team and engaged with us throughout this process.”

Paul Concannon, project director, said at the time: “Sceirde Rocks Windfarm has the potential to deliver enduring benefits to Ireland and to local communities in Galway – reducing Ireland’s carbon emissions, improving energy security, and stimulating vital investment in local skills, employment, infrastructure and business development.”

The board is due to make a decision on July 28.

Photo: Comedian Tommy Tiernan. Photo Andres Poveda