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“What’s the cost to our health?” – Locals plan to fight planning for battery storage compound

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By Michelle Crean

 

East Kerry locals plan to fight against a planned 40 unit battery compound which they say will destroy their community and potentially their health – if built.

Kerry County Council has given the go ahead for Redfaze Limited to build the battery storage site at Ballynahulla, Ballydesmond, which will house 40 battery units, transformers and associated equipment.

Battery storage compounds store excess electricity generated by windfarms when the wind is high - and release it back into the grid when the turbines are slack.

However, up to 300 angry and frustrated locals from the Gneeveguilla, Knocknagree, Scartaglin, Kiskeam and Newmarket areas, met to discuss their concerns in Ballydesmond Community Hall on Wednesday night.

They fear that the batteries are potentially at high risk of going on fire which would lead to an evacuation of a 10 mile radius in the area.

Concerned residents now plan tolodge an appeal against planning permission for the facility on health and safety grounds withAn Bord Pleanala next week.

“There’s disbelief ,” local Anita O’Sullivan told the Killarney Advertiser.

“Longford County Council refused planning for a six battery facility due to a health and safety risk and Kerry County Council granted one that’s five times bigger than that. Words can’t even fathom how planning was granted. We can’t comprehend how they can do it.”

She explained that the battery compound is connected to the wind turbines to help regulate power going onto the grid, but said that locals weren’t even consulted about it.

“The planning application was found by pure luck when a local was out walking,” she said.

“What is the cost to our health? Our community will be destroyed. There’s a high risk the batteries could go on fire creating toxic smoke, and if that happens people within a 10 mile radius have between three and 10 minutes to evacuate the area. It takes 36 hours for a battery to quench itself out if it goes on fire,” she said. “There’s 40 of them – we could be on high alert for weeks or even months. You wonder how a human being can allow this!”

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Network Ireland Kerry discuss sustainable success

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Network Ireland Kerry held their third annual collaboration event last Wednesday at the Rose Hotel, Tralee. The theme was: “The Journey to Sustainable Success” which brought three industry experts together to talk about their own journey to sustainable successful.

Business professionals, entrepreneurs, and financial leaders came together for this highly anticipated event to learn about the journey from becoming a start-up, to a small-to-medium enterprise (SME), and a large SME.

The event was opened by AIB Branch Liaison for Network Ireland Kerry and AIB Castleisland Branch Manager, Colleen Shannon. It was MC’d by AIB Tralee Branch Manager, Stephen Stack.

Sarah Farrar of AINMHÌ, Garrett Dillon of Mr. Binman and Dillon Waste Ltd. and Susan Quirke-Crowley of Mounthawk Montessori School Group were among the speakers at the event.

These leaders spoke about their challenges, milestones, and breakthroughs they encountered, from launching an idea to scaling operations nationally.

Tara Elzingre of Tara Elzingre Consultancy, Zaneta Labuz-Czerwein of Rustic Boowa and Sharon Hartnett of U Coaching promoted their businesses for ‘Minute on the Mic’

Emily Reen, Network Ireland Kerry President, described the event as a testament to the power of partnership. She said: “The event underscored a powerful message: sustainable business success is not a solo journey. With the right partnerships, teams and financial tools, businesses of all sizes can grow with purpose, resilience, and long-term impact.”

Network Ireland Kerry will host their next monthly event on November 12 in Killarney and in collaboration with the Kerry Local Enterprise Office, titled: “Gain Competitive Advantage in Your Business”. This event will be MC’d by Karen Ronan, 2025 National Vice President of Network Ireland and CEO of Galway Chamber. This event is open to non-members and members, and everyone is welcome from 6 pm for networking and refreshments, with the event taking place from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

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Minor injury clinic to open by this time next year

The Killarney Local Injury Clinic is expected to be open by Q3 2026, according to the HSE. The proposed unit will be located on the grounds of St Columbanus Home. […]

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The Killarney Local Injury Clinic is expected to be open by Q3 2026, according to the HSE. The proposed unit will be located on the grounds of St Columbanus Home.

The timeline was confirmed in response to a Parliamentary Question from Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill, who said the project will follow the relocation of the Community Nursing Unit from its current site to the grounds of the old St Finan’s Hospital. Once the transfer is complete, construction of the injury clinic can proceed.
Deputy Cahill described the two new health facilities as “a fantastic addition for Killarney and the wider East, Mid, and South Kerry regions” and noted they will help reduce waiting times at University Hospital Kerry A&E.
“I will continue to push for enhanced health services for our people,” added the Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Older People.
The new clinic is expected to provide urgent care services for local residents, easing pressure on hospital emergency departments and improving access to timely treatment in the Killarney area.

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