KCLR News interviews Cllr Maurice Shorthall on the approved Ballynalacken Wind Farm (20th April 2026)

A major wind farm project on the North Kilkenny/Laois boundary has been granted planning permission by An Comisiun Pleanala, despite considerable local opposition. The development at Ballynalacken will consist of 12 wind turbines with a rotor diameter of 117 metres, a hub height of 96 and a half metres for 11 turbines and one with an 84 metre height. This will mean an uppermost tip height of 155 metres - just over 500 feet - for all bar one of the turbines. Speaking to Dermot Keyes of KCLR News, Castlecomer District Councillor Maurice Shorthall said that this wasn't the news that local residents were hoping for.