Wind Farm being planned for Mushera and Ballinagree

David contacted us recently about a new wind farm that is being planned for Mushera Mountain, and near Ballinagree. He and others are concerned that wind turbines will destroy the scenic walking route, “the Duhallow Way”, that the wind turbines will pose a serious health hazard to people living near them, and also cause severe disruption to the hen harrier population and wildlife of the Mushera Valley, and is asking people to sign the petition to try to stop this development.

Ballinagree Wind Farm and is a joint venture between Irish forestry company Coillte, and the large Canadian multinational Brookfield Renewables, and is currently in the planning stage.

The turbines in the map above represents a general view of the lands that Coillte own, commonage that Brookfield have already purchased near the gates of Millstreet Country Park (Maulnahorna), and farmers lands that Brookfield are trying to and have already agreed contracts with near Ballinagree.

In all it’s about 5 miles from one end to the other, and it could come as close as a mile to Ballinagree village. They have told locals that “it’s a big project that will link Millstreet to Mallow with Turbines.”

Brookfield operate a number of wind farms in Ireland, the closest to here are Gneeves (11 turbines), Knockacummer (Rockchapel, 5 turbines), and Coomagearlaghy-Kilgarvan (38 turbines) [full list]

People of #Ballinagree beware!!!@coilltenews and Brookfield Renewables are in your area, actively canvassing residents to take Wind Turbines. They have told locals that it's a big project that will link Millstreet to Mallow with Turbines. Please act now against these parasites!

— Sliabh Luachra Wind Awareness Group (@SliabhLuachraW1) August 19, 2019

Read: Landowners across Cork approached by windfarm companies seeking land (Irish Independent)

An Bord Pleanála : STOP the construction of wind turbines on and in the vicinity of Musheramore – Sign the Petition! https://t.co/cCbp3PbDpI via @Change

— FVWA (@finnvalleywind) August 18, 2019

Hen harrier pop within Mullaghanish to Musheramore Mntns SPA have fallen by 80% since 2005. Forestry impacts clear pic.twitter.com/BAW7pMl677

— An Taisce (@AnTaisce) February 2, 2016

Ballinagree Wind Farm Brochure

This is a copy of the brochure that is being distributed door to door in the area:

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The red line is the ridge that runs along Mushera, and past Ballinagree, the probable location of the wind farm. The blue line is the already in place Boggeragh Wind Farm, near Kilcorney [2]

Ballinagree in the centre foreground, with Mushera on the left [3]

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A number of years ago, a wind farm was proposed for Mushera / Ballinagree, but at the time was rejected because of the range of the Hen Harrier. It looks like the proposed windfarm will run right up to the edge of the Mullaghanish to Musheramore Special Protection Area, one of only six areas in Irleand reserved for the Hen Harrier [5]

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Musheramore pictured from Musherabeg. An underestimated duo in the Lee Valley #hiking #walking #Archaeology #group pic.twitter.com/X4RE017WLr

— Lee Valley Walking (@leevalleywalks) July 1, 2018