‘The Spirit of Parnell is Alive and Well in Knocknagoshel’ said telecommunications mast protest organiser Michelle Keane as she and neighbours gathered for celebrations
A planning application for a 15-metre telecommunications mast in Knocknagoshel has been refused by Kerry County Council.
This was the third attempt by Eir to develop the infrastructure at its exchange building in the middle of the North Kerry village.
Eir initially sought planning permission in 2020 for an 18-metre telecommunications mast at its exchange building in Knocknagoshel village; this was refused.
The company applied late last year for a 15-metre structure; an initial application was deemed invalid, and the company again applied, but this application has now been refused by Kerry County Council.
Locals in Knocknagoshel have been vehemently opposed to the location, close to the school, houses, and other amenities, stating more suitable sites are available outside the village.
Eir now has four weeks to make an appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the council’s refusal.
Local woman, Michelle Keane, who organised a protest rally against the proposed mast development, says it’s a great day for the village now that the council has refused permission.
She says however, they’ll fight this proposed mast development all the way, and will make an objection to An Bord Pleanála, if Eir appeals the case.
Read full article –> www.radiokerry.ie
Residents in Knocknagoshel are celebrating after plans to erect a 15m high telecommunications mast in their village was turned down by Kerry County Council. Mast protest organiser Michelle Keane (seated) celebrating with neighbours at the news of Kerry County Council’s turning down the Eir Mast application for Knocknagoshel Village. Included are from left: Johnny Morrissey, Patricia Scanlon, Máire Collins, David Falvey, Deirdre Bell, Larry Hickey, Pat Griffin, Liz Lane, Geoff Collins, Anthony McAuliffe and John O’Connor. Photo by John Reidy.
The small village of Knocknagoshel is rejoicing after what it claims is a ‘big victory’ following Kerry County Council’s (KCC) decision to refuse planning to Eir for a 15m high monopole mast in its village.
It’s the third occasion that a request for permission has been denied, and the natives feel protests and community solidarity helped play a significant role in swaying the council’s decision.
A show of unity by over 50 people representing the concerns of residents, the local school and business have opposed the mast plans for over three years. They cited the proximity of the mast to village life as a threat to public health as the primary concern.
KCC’s decision was made known on Wednesday morning and was immediately met with a rapturous response by the residents.
The Council said the proposed development is located within the settlement boundary of the village and is ‘immediately adjacent’ to residential properties. KCC felt the development would be ‘highly obtrusive’.
“This is a big victory for our cause, our village, and rural Ireland. We’re honest people. We want broadband but putting this thing in the middle of our village was a non-runner,” said protest organiser, Michelle Keane.
She thanked Kerry County Council for being ‘very respectful’ of their campaign as residents submitted numerous objections stating that a mast was not wanted in the village.
“The people’s republic of Knocknagoshel have spoken and their voices have been heard and respected by the council,” Michelle added.
Liz Lane, Principal of Loughfouder National School, said she is ‘delighted’ that the health and safety of residents, staff and children at the school will be better protected by the decision.
“This is a proud community. This mast would have been an eyesore in the middle of the village,” said Ms Lane.
Resident Johnny Morrissey, who lives approximately 10 metres from where the mast would have been erected, also expressed his delight at the decision.
“I’m over the moon with this. Not to grant planning permission for a third time in the interest of public well-being and safety is important to us,” he said.
“I have to say a huge thank you to Michelle [Keane] for organising the protest and notifying everyone in the parish. Without her vision this mast could have gone up overnight, where would we be then?” Mr Morrissey added.
Local postman John O’Connor explained that through his work meeting people around the parish he was able to gauge the wider opinion. He found ‘total resistance’ to the idea of a mast in the village.
“The consensus in this locality is that people were not against having the mast in the area. They just wanted it out of the village and move it somewhere in the countryside, or on higher ground,” he said.
In a final nod to the village’s famous historic banner, ‘Arise Knocknagoshel, and Take Your Place Among the Nations of the Earth’ – which dates to 1891 when the residents of Knocknagoshel marched to a rally in support of Charles Stewart Parnell – Ms Keane said:
“Charles Stuart Parnell is truly smiling down in spirit on us all from Heaven in our victory. The great people of Knocknagoshel came out in mighty force to object to this Eir mast. A million thanks to everyone.”
It’s not clear if Eir will appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála. Residents say they will continue to oppose the plans.
Read full article –> www.independent.ie
Whole community objects to location of proposed 15m-high mast in Knocknagoshel
Backlash against plans to erect ‘eyesore’ mast in Kerry village
Knocknagoshel, Co Kerry: This is the third application for the same project.
A planning application to erect a 15m-high telecommunications mast has been met with a backlash from locals in Knocknagoshel in Co Kerry.
The planning permission, which was submitted by Eir on November 28, details the construction of a “15m high monopole telecommunications structure with antennas, dishes and associated equipment”.
It is the third application for the same project following two former unsuccessful applications.
Locals are objecting to the proposed site of the mast, claiming that it would be an eyesore due to its location at the very centre of the village on the grounds of the Eir exchange building.
Michelle Keane, a resident of Knocknagoshel, organised a protest last month in response to the plans which saw more than 50 local people attend.
Whole community opposed
“It’s one thing to have one person having an objection, but this is the whole village and community objecting,” she said.
“I’m not against having a mast in the locality, but it needs to be in a more suitable location, not by houses.
“It’s right in the middle of the village, near houses, the town park and the school,” she said.
Ms Keane said despite the need for better broadband, the majority of the community will be objecting to the plans due to the location.
It would be an eyesore, and it would be visually obtrusive from a wide area of the village.
Ms Keane said it would negatively impact residents in the area who would be able to see it from their gardens.
“I’m in business myself, I’m an interior designer and we all want broadband but not a 15-metre-tall mast in the centre of the village,” she said.
She said farmers are willing to meet with the company as they have alternative sites for the mast instead of the proposed site which is already owned by Eir.
“I don’t blame them, they have the site for free it would be like me building a house on a site that I have already,” she said before adding that there needs to be a compromise.
Independent Kerry Councillor Jackie Healy Rae said the residents of the village have come together over the past number of weeks.
Location issue
“The community isn’t so much against it, it’s the location of it that is the issue because it’s right in the middle of the village.
“To be fair, I think the community are being flexible enough, they have looked to meet with them to look at alternative locations,” he said.
Fianna Fáil councillor Fionnán Fitzgerald said the proposed development was too close to the local primary school and said he was concerned as a teacher.
“I would be concerned as to the long-term effects that it could have on the school community. Also, Knocknagoshel is in a very rural area, and surely other sites could be found to erect the mast,” he said.
A decision on the application is due on January 31, 2023, while submissions will be accepted until January 10.
Eir did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publishing.
A new planning application will have to be submitted for a proposed 15-metre telecommunications mast in Knocknagoshel.
Eircom Ltd had applied to Kerry County Council for permission to build the structure at the Eir exchange in Knocknagoshel village.
The council confirmed the initial planning application wasn’t valid and the developer has been invited to submit a new application.
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Over 50 people attended a protest against the proposed mast on Monday; they’re concerned about the location of the proposed mast and feel it’s too close to the school in the middle of the village.
The developer is now planning to meet with residents with a view to finding an alternative location.
Michelle Keane organised the protest and says if a new application is lodged, all submissions will need to be re-sent to Kerry County Council
Knocknagoshel residents will meet with the company behind a proposed telecommunications mast to try to find an alternative location for it.
Eircom Ltd has applied to Kerry County Council for permission to build a 15-metre-high monopole telecommunications structure at the Eir exchange in Knocknagoshel village.
The council is due to make a decision on the application by December 18th.
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Knocknagoshel resident Michelle Keane is concerned about the location of the proposed mast, saying she believes it’s too close to the school in the middle of the village.
Over 50 people attended a protest against the proposed mast today.
A call is going out to villagers and natives from Knocknagoshel to arise again.
Again, because the people of the locality did it before in support of Charles Stewart Parnell when he addressed a rally in Newcastle West in 1891.
It was for this remarkable campaign and march, from The Mall to the West Limerick town, that the banner was made with the now world famous slogan: Arise Knocknagoshel, and Take Your Place Among the Nations of the Earth!
Now, over 130 years later, the call on people and to action is to oppose Eir Telecommunications plans to site a 15 metre tall communications mast in their midst.
Local woman, Michelle Keane is in the process of organising the proposed protest meeting being planned for the coming Monday, November 7th at 1.30pm outside the old telephone exchange in the village.
15 Meter High Mast
“This has only just come to my attention and I’m doing my best to alert the people of the locality to planning application by
to erect a 15 meter high mast at the old telephone exchange at the bottom of the village across from Johnny Morrissey’s House and beside Lar Hickey’s house,” said Michelle.
The call is now out for all residents of the village and parish and board of management of the local Scoil Mhuire National School, Tidy Towns committee, all local councillors and politicians, Knocknagoshel Over 55 Club along with members of the Knocknagoshel GAA Club to meet on Monday at the time above outside the old telephone exchange in protest against the proposed siting of this mast.
Too Near the School
“Locals are very concerned that its location is not appropriate, especially as there could be health implications for school children and residents in the immediate vicinity,” Ms. Keane continued
“It’s too near the school and there must be plenty of other areas around the locality where they could site the mast.
“This is Eir Telecommunications second application for a mast in the last two years as the first one was initially for an 18 metre structure which was refused by Kerry County Council.
“The planning number for this application is: 2211/03 and submissions must be made before November 25th and it costs €20 to make a submission,” said Michelle in conclusion – for now.
A protest rally has been organised against a proposed telecommunications mast in Knocknagoshel.
Eircom Ltd has applied to Kerry County Council for permission to build a 15-metre-high monopole telecommunications structure at the Eir exchange in Knocknagoshel village.
The proposed development also includes antennas, dishes and associated equipment, and the council is due to make a decision on it by December 18th.
Kerry village rejects planned Eir mast – ‘We have a beautiful village and this mast will be ugly’
Michelle Keane and her fellow residents of Knocknagoshel make a stand in their village against plans to erect a mast.With Michelle is (from left) Johnny Morrissey, Patricia Cusack, Scoil Mhuire, Knocknagoshel, Liz Lane, principal at Loughfouder National School,Pat Griffin, Geoff Collins, Kathleen Murphy and Anthony McAuliffe. Photo by John Reidy
Michelle Keane and her fellow residents of Knocknagoshel make a stand in their village against plans to erect a mast.With Michelle is (from left) Johnny Morrissey, Patricia Cusack, Scoil Mhuire, Knocknagoshel, Liz Lane, principal at Loughfouder National School,Pat Griffin, Geoff Collins, Kathleen Murphy and Anthony McAuliffe. Photo by John Reidy
A proposed 15-metre high 5G mast in the middle of Knocknagoshel village is being met with fierce opposition locally by protestors who say the structure is too close to the local primary school and people’s homes.
Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye
