Killala based councillor Jarlath Munnelly has welcomed the decision of An Taisce to withdraw its appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the Mayo Power project at Killala. The Fine Gael councillor, who had been very critical of An Taisce’s decision to object to this project, stated that this was a sensible decision for all parties involved. “I am delighted that An Taisce has withdrawn their appeal. I think this is a good decision for all parties, as this is a very sound, sustainable, project with many benefits for both the local community and the environment.”
Cllr Munnelly said that many different agencies deserved credit for the role that they played in bringing the project this far. “I think the Western Development Commission have done enormous work on the background work on sustainable energy, which has been key to this project. Also Mayo County Council’s decision to draw up a renewable energy strategy has proven to be a very far reaching idea, which also assisted this project.”
Cllr Munnelly also remembered the work of the people who brought this project together in the first place, including the late former Fine Gael TD Myles Staunton. “Great credit goes to the promoters of this project who kept faith with this project from the start, right through times when it looked like this project would never happen. And in a special way, I’d like to acknowledge the important role played by the late, very great, Myles Staunton. I can say, without contradiction, that without Myles, this project would never have happened.”
