Dear Editor,

The time has come for everyone who lives in the beautiful valley between the Galtees and the Knockmealdowns, from Newcastle and Cahir all the way to Mitchelstown, to stand up and be counted regarding the proposed Gridlink 400kV cables and pylons!

Following the first round of public consultation, three one kilometre wide routes have been marked on a map and one of the routes lies just south of the Galtee mountains in one of the most beautiful valleys in Ireland. The other two routes are marked through County Waterford which would seem to make sense, given that the power-line is going to link Waterford with Cork. There is some suggestion that Waterford doesn’t want the power-line and pylons and so, South Tipp was chosen as one of the possible routes. It is up to each and every one of us to let Eirgrid know that South Tipp does not want the power-lines either.

I urge you to attend at the open day at the Clonmel Park Hotel between 1pm and 8pm on 18th September. Make yourself aware of valid reasons for objecting. Look up the County Development Plan and ask why the ‘protected views’ are not being protected by the local authority!

Regarding the County Waterford objections, let us make the point that practically all Waterford tourism is coastal based – Dunmore East, Waterford City, Bunmahon, Stradbally, Clonea, Dungarvan, Ring, Helvic, Ardmore and Ferrypoint across from Youghal. I do not minimise the importance of historic Lismore. The valley between the Galtees and the Knockmealdowns has the beauty of the valley; it is the view from the Vee and from all the vantage points on both mountains. Not many tourists will come to see the gigantic pylons.

This valley is already disadvantaged when it comes to tourist facilities but works valiantly to market the mountains and the attendant views. All views will be dominated by pylons if the power-lines come through the valley. County Waterford is far better placed to absorb the pylons and power-lines than this valley. County Waterford has been blessed with magnificent coastline; Tipperary has not. Waterford coastline and the wonderful Copper Coast geopark will not be impacted in any way by either of the other two mapped options which run throw County Waterford.

Please attend at Clonmel on the 18th or learn to live with the pylons as your view!

Sincerely yours,

Ed O’Riordan,

Skeheenarinky.