Drumquin residents voice strong opposition to proposed Wind Farm developments

RESIDENTS of Drumquin have raised growing concerns over plans for a series of new wind farm developments which they say could dramatically alter the character, landscape and quality of life in the village and surrounding hills.

The concerns were highlighted on December 30, when around 60 people took part in a community walk around the Dooish and Dunnaree hills. The walk, held on a bright winter morning, brought together local residents, supporters from neighbouring Plumbridge and people home for the Christmas period. Organisers described it as a symbolic “Christmas hug” for the hills that dominate the Drumquin skyline.

Participants said the walk was both a celebration of the area’s natural beauty and a peaceful demonstration of opposition to proposals for three new wind farms and a large battery storage facility on land surrounding the village. In total, the plans could see up to 19 new wind turbines erected on the much-loved Dooish and Dunnaree hills.

Residents say many only became aware of the scale of the proposals in recent months and feel shocked by both the size and proximity of the developments. Some of the turbines are planned to be between 142 and 180 metres high - among the tallest in the region - with several located as close as one mile from the village.

“There is a real sense of anger and frustration,” one local resident said. “People feel this has been done quietly, without proper consultation, and that Drumquin is being asked to carry a burden that other areas would not accept.”

Locals point to what they describe as a cumulative impact of wind farm development around the village. Since the first turbines were erected at Lough Hill and Bin Mountain in 2007, the number within a seven-mile radius of Drumquin has grown to 67, with 34 now within three miles. The new proposals would add significantly to that figure, with turbines almost double the height of earlier developments.

Residents also cite a 2011 assessment by government landscape architect Mansil Millar, who stated at the time that the Drumquin landscape was already saturated with turbines. Since then, more developments have been approved, and locals fear the village is becoming increasingly industrialised.

Environmental concerns are also central to the opposition. Dunnaree Hill is designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI), and residents fear the developments could damage sensitive habitats and wildlife, including red squirrels, curlews, hen harriers, bats and other protected species. They are also worried about the loss of peatland, which they say plays a vital role in absorbing rainfall and reducing flood risk in the village below.

Noise pollution is another major issue. Locals describe Drumquin as having an “amphitheatre-like” shape that amplifies sound and say turbine noise already carries across the countryside. With forestry being felled in parts of the area, residents fear natural sound barriers are disappearing, increasing the impact of turbine noise, particularly at night.

Concerns have also been raised about potential impacts on air and water quality, including private water supplies and nearby reservoirs, as well as the visual and environmental impact of a proposed battery storage facility on the Dooish Road.

Beyond environmental issues, many residents say the developments threaten Drumquin’s cultural and historical heritage. Dunnaree Hill, known locally as the ‘Hill of the Kings’, is associated with an ancient fort, and locals fear the archaeological significance of the site could be permanently damaged.

In response, a small community working group has formed, meeting regularly and using social media to raise awareness. The group says it has been overwhelmed by feedback from locals and from people with family roots in Drumquin now living elsewhere. More than 140 objections have already been submitted through the council’s planning portal, though residents say they believe many more are needed.

Members of the group have also met with local councillors Mark Buchanan (DUP) and Ann-Marie Donnelly (Sinn Féin), the only elected representatives who responded to requests for meetings, to outline their concerns.

Residents say their opposition is not about rejecting renewable energy outright, but about the scale, siting and cumulative impact of developments around Drumquin.

“We love these hills,” one organiser said. “They define who we are, they protect our wildlife, our history and our peace. We are simply asking that they be protected for future generations.”

Several of the planning applications remain open for public comment, and the community group is urging anyone concerned about the proposals to make their views known through the formal planning process.