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WIN | EVENTS
Galway Life
David Nevin 10th November 2026
Planning permission has been refused for a major solar farm near Lackagh in north-east Galway.
The development is commonly known as Blackthorn Solar Farm, and would be around 93 hectares – or 229 acres – in size on lands on both sides of the village.
It would take in townlands across the Turloughmore, Lackagh and Knockdoe areas and the closest that solar panels would come to established homes ranges from 40 to 100 metres in various areas.
Almost immediately after an application was lodged at County Hall, objections began steadily pouring in on a wide range of grounds – and although they varied in length and complexity, they were unified in their opposition.
The issues and arguments raised are too numerous to mention in detail, but common issues included construction impact on road safety, destruction of landscape views, loss of prime farmland, impact on the future development of Lackagh itself, and negative affect on nature and wildlife.
Many of the objections stressed they are not against renewable energy or solar farm developments in principle – just not in this location – and questioned the adequecy of a wide-ranging raft of assessments submitted as part of the application.
Now, Galway County Council has refused permission on five distinct grounds.
They include the unsuitability of the local road network for construction and future maintainence, negative impact of grid connection works on public roads and future works on same, and negative impact on public water infrastructure.
Planners at County Hall also held that the glint and glare assessment included with the application was insufficient, and found that an archaeology and cultural heritage assessment was also incomplete.
While the decision is already being welcomed by local campaigners, the solar farm as planned is not yet off the table, as developer Blackthorn Solar Farm Limited has four weeks to lodge an appeal with An Coimisiún Pleanála – if it so choses.
The reasons for refusal can be read in full below:
1. Having regard to the proposed development access points, traffic and haulage routing being proposed onto/from public road network where considerations of public road capacity, width, alignment, surface and structural condition/composition of this pavement, in conjunction with future maintenance requirements, and in the absence of complete and sufficient details pertaining to the same including relevant third party agreements and consents, would render the road network or any part of it, unsuitable to carry the additional HGV/ articulated rigids traffic likely to result from the proposed development(s). These matters, in conjunction with the suitability of the proposed external and internal traffic circulation regime and the potential for conflicting traffic movements to occur directly and indirectly to the local public road network due to restricted vehicle manoeuvrability within and adjoining the site which may negatively impact public road and vulnerable road users’ safety. The Planning Authority considers that if permitted as proposed, the development would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard, obstruction of road users or otherwise, contrary to CDP policy objectives NNR1, NNR2, and DM Standards 28, and DM standard 33a of the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028.
2. Whilst further having regard to DM Standard 33a and Policy Objective NNR 2 of the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028, the Planning Authority considers the impact of the future proposed grid connection works in conjunction with the added uncertainty of such grid routing which can directly and indirectly impact the public road carriageway. Associated extensive cable routing infrastructure such as joint bays and scale of these units, combined with the associated infrastructure, would effectively sterilise the public roadway, preventing Galway County Council from carrying out essential future works, restrict future new services, drainage upgrades, installation or extension of Group Water Scheme mains, other trunk mains and/or the provision or alteration of house service connections. The Planning Authority therefore considers that to permit the development as proposed, would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
3. Having regard to the submission received from Uisce Eireann, the proposed development layout includes the potential to build over multiple existing public infrastructure assets and does not adhere to the separation distances as per Uisce Éireann’s Standards Codes and Practices. Therefore, if permitted as proposed, the development would represent a health and safety hazard and would be contrary the to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
4. The Glint and Glare Assessment submitted is considered insufficient due to direct and indirect impacts not been satisfactorily addressed with due consideration to the control of development potentially affecting National Roads, as outlined in the DoECLG Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2012). Therefore, if permitted as proposed the development would endanger public safety by obstruction of road users or otherwise and would materially contravene DM Standard 70: Solar Energy of the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028 and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
5. Having regard to the submission received from the DHLGH, the submitted Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Assessment is considered that the assessment process submitted is incomplete. Therefore, if permitted as proposed, the development would materially contravene DM Standard 61: Archaeological Conservation and Preservation of the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028 and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
26/61567
Sandy Road,
Galway
H91 CC97
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