Introduction
These webpages are here to povide the Community with information on the poprosed Kilmichael wind farm which is being developed by Regnum Renewables
What are Regnum Proposing?
The plans include the construction and installation of 8, 182m high wind turbines with a combined output of 55 MW. The work will include construction of access roadways, construction compound, six kilometers of underground cabling, and a 110kV substation . There will be a new connection to the national grid via new overhead power lines. The turbines will be spread over the area around the existing comunications mask (this is 32m high) in the middle of Craanford, Holyfort and Monaseed as indicated below. The substation would be located in Glandoran. As the combined output of the turbines is over 50 MW, (even though this area is identified in Wexford County Councils development plan as 'Uplands' and not to be considered for wind farm development) it is classed as 'Strategic Infastructure' and therefore the company do not have to go for planning permission to WCC, they apply directly to An Bord Pleanála. Their decision is final, there is no appeal. The period for which Regnum will apply for PP is understood to be 35 years. The turbines are located within and on the edges of the red area indicated below.
The DRAFT turbine layout below shows actual turbine locations, although these could be changed by Regnum. The closest distance from any turbine to our houses is 4 x 182m = 728m, 4 x the height of the turbine. The latest Draft Wind Energy Guidelines currently being considerd by the government include a minimum allowed distance bewteen a turbine and a house of 7.5 x the hieght of the turbine which would be 1365m or 1.365 km. Turbines T4 and T7 are located on Coillte land. 6 turbines are located on private land. The landowners have come to an agreement with Regnum to grant permission in return for annual financial payments for the operational life of the wind farm. The landowners who have agreed to allow the turbines on their land are Rusty Doran of Carnew (T1 and T3), Nick Darcy of Mount Nebo (T5), Bob Bailey of Craanhill (T2), John Lancaster of Clonamona Upper (T8), and Clive Cobb of the Mount (T5). Regnum have also secured the agreement of several more landowners to accommodate site access, the cable and the 110kV substation including Alan Poole of Ballyowen, Gavin Kinch of Carribeg & Ms Stephanie von Schilcher of Carribeg.
How big are the turbines and what would they look like?
No information has been provided by Regnum as part of the 'Community Engagement' to demonstrate the visual impact of the 182m turbines. To put their size in perspective, they are six times the height of the existing communications mast, 50 m higher than the Croghan turbines and 70 m higher than the turbines on Gibbets Hill (this is the wind farm on your left as you drive from Carnew to Bunclody).
The images below have been generated using drone footage and the limited information that we have been given. The visual impact of these industrial scale machines is significant. The Wexford County Development Plan specifically excludes this area from being considered for Wind Farm development. Unfortunately An Bord Pleanála have the power to grant a planning application which is in direct contravention of a county development plan if it is considered to be in the national interest.
What would the new substation look like?
Again we have no detailed information from Regnum on the proposed substation. This is an image of the 110 kV substation and pylons built for Cushaling wind farm in County Offaly. Cushaling has an output similar to Kilmichael with 9 185m high Vesta turbines. The wind farm was developed by Statkraft.
Who are Regnum Renewables?
Regnum have their registered office in Dublin at 2 Seapoint Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin, A94 VY68. Their day to day operations are run from the 3rd Floor at 29/30 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2. The company was incorporated on 29th August 2022 and their company registration number is 724980. The comapny directors: are listed as Michael O’Sullivan – Director / CEO / Founder, Kevin Daly – Director / COO / Co-Founder, Ciara Bermingham – Director / Chief Commercial Officer. The other staff at Regnum who are involved in the Kilmichael project are Daragh Browne, Project Manager and Barry Brennan, Community Liason Officer.
Research into the chain of ownership reveals that Lanber Holdings Unlimited Limited – Company Number 81274, formed in 2 March 1981 are owners of Regnum Renewables Ireland Limited, Regnum Holdings Limited and Regnum Renewables Developments Limited, the developer of Kilmichael Wind Farm.
Lanber Holdings, the company at the top of the ownership tree have their registered adress at Senan House, Enniscorthy Technology Park. The directors are Samuel Bertram Allen (our famous former showjumper from Wexford), Maurice Lancelot Allen, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Patrick Joseph Asple (Company Secretary). Lanber Holdings does not have to publicly file financial statements due to it’s “unlimited Limited” status
Who would own the Wind Farm?
Lanber Holdings Unlimited Limited are owners of Regnum Renewables Developments Limited, the developer of Kilmichael Wind Farm. They would presumably be the owners of the wind farm if it goes ahead.
However, the future ownership of the windfarm could be less certain. There have been recents reports of China's intention to invest heavily in Irish wind energy. https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2026/01/07/china-wants-to-import-more-irish-food-and-a-stake-in-irish-wind-energy-taoiseach-says/ In fact in 2016 the Chinese purchased 14 wind farm projects across Ireland for a reported 350m Euro. The China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) took control of the projects located in the north and south of the country. If this wind farm goes ahead the turbines sitting on the land around us could realistically become the property of China or another direct foriegn investor. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-38239170
https://regnumrenewables.ie/projects/kilmichael-windfarm
What has already happened and what happens next?
Despite requesting a detailed design, consultation and construction progamme with dates, this has not been provided by Regnum. From some research and reviewing the very approximate timelines provided by Regnum in thier two information leaflets this is the best estimate of what has and what is about to happen. Public records indicate that lobbying by Regnum and the company employed by them (headed by Ivan Yates) has been ongoing since 2024. It has continued over the last 2+ years. From information from landowners who turned Regnum down, landowner negotiations started around May and April of 2024. It would seem logical to assume that a feasability study and preliminary design started some time before negotiations with the landowners. The best estimate of the time line of events is summarised below;
In the Past
- Late 2023 to May 2024 Feasabilty and preliminary design work by Regnum and their consultants
- January 2024 Ivan Yates appointed by Regnum to lobby on their behalf
- May/April 2024 Negotiations/meetings start with Landowners
- June /July/August 2024. Regnum lobby Gorey/Kilmuckridge councillors at various meetings
- September 2024. Regnum meet with Eddie Taaffe, the CEO of Wexford County Council.
- April 2025 Meeting between Regnum and TD Brian Brennan,
- May 2025 to 2026 Bird & bat surveys.Noise, flood and visual impact assessments take place on site
- June 2025 Regnum makes first contact with a selection of local residents within 1.2 km of the boundary of the planned wind farm with the first information leaflet and one on one meetings.
- July 2025 Regnum met with Deputy Malcolm Byrne in the Leinster House.
- August 2025 Consultation with Wexford County Council in preplanning meetings.
- September 2025 Regnum lobby Gorey/Kilmuckridge councillors
- September 2025 Finalise a turbine layout and a delivery route for turbine blades and access points to the site.
- February 2026 Regnum makes second contact with a selection of local residents within 1.2 km of the boundary of the planned wind farm, issue thier second information leaflet and one on one meetings
- March 2026 Preplanning meetings with An Coimisiún Pleanála
In the future
- April 2026 Bird & bat surveys continue. Noise and hydrological assessments complete. Visual impact assessments to be completed
- May/June 2026? Compile draft chapters of Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR)
- September 2026? Planning submission by Regnum to An Coimisiún Pleanála
- 6 week period allowed for public to lodge ‘observations’
- 18 weeks until An Coimisiún Pleanála publish their decision
- 18 to 24 months construction period
Lobbying by Regnum
The company have been conducting a lobbying campaign of our elected public officials for over two years. The details below are taken directly from public record. https://www.lobbying.ie/
January 2024
Regnum retain Ivan Yates to lobby on their behalf in January 2024.
June July and August 2024
Regnum/Ivan Yates met local TD’s & Councillors and public officials in June July and August 2024. The following were involved in these meetings; Donal Kenny, Ashdown Hotel 26/06 Anthony Donoghue, Ashdown Hotel 16/07 Joe Sullivan, Ashdown Hotel 22/07 Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin, Ashdown Hotel 19/08 Darragh McDonald, Ashdown Hotel 19/08 Nicky Boland, Ashdown Hotel 19/08. Mary Farrell, Amber Springs Hotel 26/08 Oliver Walsh, Upton Court Hotel 26/08 Pip Breen, Upton Court Hotel 26/08 Paddy Kavanagh, Paddy's home 26/08. Emails were sent to all 10 councillors after meeting with them to share a copy of information discussed in the meeting on the proposed project. Informal communication (6-10) Texts were sent from Ivan Yates to share contact details and thank the local councillors that were met for their time The purpose of the meeting is recorded as; ‘’To understand how the project would be received, determine who we should meet and how best to engage with the community.’’
September 2024
Kevin Daly (COO), Karen McDermott (Head of Planning), Barry Brennan (Community Liaison Officer) and Ivan Yates (External) met with Eddie Taaffe, the CEO of Wexford County Council at the Council's offices on 18/09/2024 to discuss the proposed project. ‘’The planning process, work carried out to date, overview of the meetings held with local councillors, the obstacles to the project, the benefits of the project and proposed timelines were discussed.’’
April 2025
A meeting was set up by Barry Brennan (Community Liaison Officer with Regnum) with TD Brian Brennan, via calls and texts in early April 2025. Kevin Daly (Regnum), Daragh Browne (Regnum), Barry Brennan (external, CLO) and Ivan Yates (external) met with Brian Brennan in the Ashdown Park Hotel on 14/04/25. ‘’The aim was also to gain insight into how the project may be received locally and within the council, identify key stakeholders to engage with prior to the project launch, and determine the most effective approach for community engagement.’’
July 2025
Kevin Daly (Regnum), Daragh Browne (Regnum) and Ivan Yates (providing advisory services) met with Deputy Malcolm Byrne in the Leinster House on 03/07/25. ‘’This meeting was to introduce Regnum and the proposed development, to understand how the project would be received, determine who should be met and how best to engage with the local community.’’
September 2025
On 16th September 2025, Regnum Renewables, with Ivan Yates on behalf of Regnum and Barry Brennan the community liaison officer for the project, met with Donal Kenny Councillor (Wexford County Council) Anthony Donohoe Councillor (Wexford County Council) Joe Sullivan Councillor (Wexford County Council) Craig Doyle Councillor (Wexford County Council) Darragh McDonald Councillor (Wexford County Council) Mary Farrell Councillor (Wexford County Council) Nicky Boland Councillor (Wexford County Council) Pip Breen Councillor (Wexford County Council) The meeting was for Regnum Renewables to ‘’provide an update on the proposed Kilmichael Wind Farm application and timelines, as well as feedback from the initial round of community engagement that had taken place.’’
How would this affect our Families and our Community?
The Landowners
Our Health
Our Community
Our Local Environment
Our Local Heritage
Our Property
What could the Future Hold?
What can we do?
Our strength is in our community and we must plan and act together. The first Kilmichael Windfarm Community Action Group meeting was attended by over 140 local residents, and was an indication of the strength of feeling against this development