Kingscourt family devastated at EirGrid proposal

A young family who returned home from America to have a better quality of life are devastated to learn that one of the proposed pylons for the Meath-Tyrone 400kV Interconnection development project is to be erected 60 metres from the gable end of their home. The Gargans spoke to The Anglo-Celt in advance of the March 12 deadline for submissions to An Bord Pleanála on the proposed development. John and Agnes Gargan from Clonturkin, Kingscourt, returned home eight years ago with their four children now aged seven, nine, ten and thirteen years for a better quality of life but they feel that has been compromised with the proposed EirGrid development. Their biggest concern is the affect the pylon will have on their children's health. "Our children will not be able to play in the front garden because the pylon will be so close." If they do play in the front garden they will be less than 50m from the pylon. The Gargans estimate that the pylon will be between 40 and 60m high. What's increasing their worries is the fact that John lost his mother and two younger sisters to cancer in recent years. Agnes believes there would be a high risk of leukaemia for her children if the pylon was erected. "John lost his two sisters who were only 31 and 47, as well as his mother who was only in her 50s to cancer and this is a terrible ordeal for us to come to terms with," said Agnes. The Gargans have a spectacular view of the Drumbar Valley from the rear of their home and EirGrid propose to build a sub-station less than a mile away from their house, just across the Meath border at Moyhill. The family believes that in the long run, EirGrid will supply the West of Ireland and then the south with electricity from there, resulting in more pylons. "Our skyline front and back will be destroyed forever," claim the Gargans. They are also concerned about the effect the development would have on the value of their property. "Who would be interested in a home with pylons to the front and back? We want the wires underground," said Agnes. They stated that some local farmers had been offered vast sums of money by EirGrid for their property four or five years but they refused it. "Some farmers were threatened with Compulsory Purchase Orders if they didn't agree to sell." Both John and Agnes have little faith in An Bord Pleanála as they feel it is another state body and will side with Eirgrid in the long term. "If we don't get a fair hearing, we feel we should seek legal advice as people are living in fear," said Agnes. The only thing EirGrid is concerned with, they claim, is the Fairy Fort that is close to their home. "They seem to be more afraid of the fairies than the people. They are giving more consideration to them than to the people living in the area," said John.