Local Community in West Sligo invited to public consultation events for proposed Crumhach Wind Farm.
SSE is opening a public consultation later this month to seek views on its plans for a proposed new 100MW onshore wind farm at the site of its existing Kingsmountain and Dunneill wind farms near Dromore West in County Sligo.
SSE Renewables has operated the 25MW Kingsmountain Wind Farm since 2003 and the neighbouring 11MW Dunneill Wind Farm since 2010. Combined, the two wind farms have played an important role in generating vital renewable energy from West Sligo for Irish home and business users.
Now after over two decades of successful operations, SSE Renewables is proposing to replace and repower the two existing wind farms – which are coming to the end of their operational lifetimes – with the new Crumhach Wind Farm development.
The development would ensure renewable energy generation continues at the Kingsmountain and Dunneill sites, supplying clean electricity from Sligo to Ireland’s national grid well into the future.
Under the new plans, SSE Renewables proposes to develop a new wind farm at the same location as the existing Kingsmountain and Dunneill wind farms as well as on adjoining greenfield lands.
The plan envisages replacing the 23 turbines currently operating at the existing sites with fewer turbines. The development would comprise up to 17 new and modern wind turbines as well as a new onsite substation. The repowering of the existing wind farms would utilise existing on-site infrastructure such as wind farm roads as well as the existing grid connection.
If consented and approved for full delivery, Crumhach Wind Farm would have an installed capacity of up to 100MW – almost tripling the existing renewable energy output from the site.
Crumhach’s delivery would be another vital contribution by SSE – Ireland’s clean energy champion – towards meeting the country’s renewable energy targets and displacing harmful carbon dioxide emissions.
The existing Kingstmountain and Dunneill Wind Farms have provided significant economic and social benefits to West Sligo over their operational lifetimes. The plans proposed by SSE Renewables would build on this positive contribution to the region through the creation of jobs and significantly enhanced community benefit funding.
It is anticipated the Crumhach Wind Farm development would create up to 100 jobs during peak construction. Throughout its operational life, it is expected the wind farm would support between two and three full time wind farm operational roles. The wind farm would also be a significant contributor to commercial rates, helping further improve local infrastructure and services in County Sligo more widely.
Crumhach Wind Farm would also extend the long-standing community benefit fund that has supported local communities in West Sligo over the past 20 years. Since 2004, the existing Kingsmountain and Dunneill Community Benefit Fund has contributed over €650,000 to local groups in the vicinity of the two wind farms. The proposed Crumhach development would be expected to support a new community benefit fund with a value of several hundred thousand euro a year, representing a significant increase in annual benefit fund payments to local communities.
Ghislain Demeuldre, Ireland Head of Onshore Wind, Solar and Battery Development, SSE Renewables, said:
“Through the proposed Crumhach Wind Farm development, SSE is seeking to build on its strong legacy of delivering clean, homegrown energy in County Sligo and to secure vital renewable energy generation at this site well into the future.
“Over two decades our existing wind farms at Kingsmountain and Dunneill have not only helped reduce harmful carbon emissions but have also delivered lasting economic benefits to the region through jobs, community benefit funding, and commercial rates contributions. We now look forward to continuing that legacy through our proposed new Crumhach Wind Farm development and working closely with the community ahead of planning submission next year.”
Public Consultation:
Members of the public are now being invited to view the plans for the proposed Crumhach Wind Farm. Public consultation events for the proposal will take place at the following locations and times:
- Dromore West Community Centre on Wednesday, July 23rd from 2pm to 8pm; and
- The Old Schoolhouse, Templeboy on Thursday, July 24th from 2pm to 8pm.
Members of the SSE Renewables project team will be available at the consultation events to provide information, answer questions, and gather feedback.
In addition to the in-person events, a virtual consultation as well as project materials and an online feedback form will be available on the Crumhach project website sserenewables.com/crumhachwindfarm from Wednesday, July 23rd until Wednesday, September 3rd. Residents can access these materials and submit their feedback online at the project website during this period.
SSE Renewables expects to submit a planning application to An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly An Bord Pleanála) in early 2026 through the Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) planning process. This process is designed for large-scale developments of national importance.
Subject to securing the necessary planning consent, a commercial route to market, and a final investment decision by SSE, the project could enter construction and be operational by the start of the next decade.
For more information about the project or consultation evening, please contact the Community Liaison Team at [email protected].