A controversial wind farm plan, featuring 30 massive turbines akin to the iconic Eiffel Tower, has been abandoned off the coasts of Clare and Galway. This development has sparked a wave of reactions, with renowned figures like Tommy Tiernan among those voicing their objections.
The ambitious €1.4 billion project, proposed by Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta (FST), aimed to construct a 450 MW wind farm with towering turbines over 1,000 feet high in the Atlantic Ocean. The nearest settlement, Carna in Galway, would have been in close proximity to this ambitious endeavor.
However, the project has now been formally withdrawn, as confirmed by An Coimiúsin Pleanála (ACP). FST's decision to withdraw means they have forfeited a substantial €35.4 million performance security bond, in addition to the significant costs incurred in preparing the extensive planning documentation.
In a letter to ACP, FST's director, Sharn Ward, stated that the company's representatives met with ACP on December 4th, where the intention to withdraw was noted. Ms. Ward emphasized that FST is formally withdrawing the planning application, citing the cessation of the Sceirde Rocks project, as notified to the Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment in April and May.
The spokesman for the Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment explained that the Sceirde Rocks project was one of the successful bidders in the Department's first offshore wind auction in 2023. However, the project's owner, Corio Generation, announced a corporate restructuring on April 8th, 2025, which would see them focus on a smaller portfolio of projects worldwide. As a result, Corio formally notified the Department that the Sceirde Rocks project would not proceed, thus terminating the ORESS support contract.
The Department has drawn down the Performance Security of approximately €35.4 million, as stipulated in the Terms and Conditions of ORESS 1. The Government remains committed to developing 5GW of offshore wind capacity, with projects expected to be constructed by 2030 and energized soon after.
The first of these South Coast DMAP projects, the Tonn Nua site, twice the size of Sceirde Rocks, was successfully auctioned in December 2025, with ESB and Orsted confirmed as the winners. The Department is now making arrangements to bring forward the remaining three sites within the South Coast DMAP, ensuring a steady pipeline of offshore developments in the coming years.
In his objection to the Sceirde Rock proposal, Tommy Tiernan emphasized the importance of preserving areas of natural beauty. He argued that allowing such a project to proceed, when there are more suitable sites either further offshore or inland, would be an irresponsible and disgusting act. Tiernan believes that Ireland's culture and identity should not be defined solely by utilitarian exploitation of its landscapes.
Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta's accounts reveal that the company had already invested a significant €31.7 million on project costs in 2023 and 2024, incurring accumulated losses of €35.93 million by March 2024 as they navigated various regulatory hurdles.
