Ballyshannon quarry planning quashed by High Court

Members of Ballyshannon Action Group celebrate the decision in Dowlings Bar.

The decision by An Bord Pleanála (now known as An Coimisiun Pleanála) to allow Kilsaran to open a quarry at Racefield in Ballyshannon has been quashed by the High Court, writes Brian Byrne. Permission had originally been refused by Kildare County Council in November 2019, but ABP had reversed that decision in June 2021.

Ballyshannon Action Group then launched legal proceedings seeking a judicial review of the decision, on several legal grounds, highlighting the planning authority’s failure to explain why it chose to disregard the conclusions of its own inspector and Kildare County Council on key concerns. The case first came before the courts in late October 2022.

If allowed to proceed, the Racefield quarry would have been Kilsaran’s fourth facility surrounding Kilcullen. There were major concerns too regarding the potential impact of quarry plans on the area's rich biodiversity.

A statement for Ballyshannon Action Group said the community is overjoyed by the decision. "For almost six years now, we have been fighting to protect this rural residential community from this inappropriate development. It is such a relief for us all to know that our concerns have been listened to and that sense has prevailed."

Expressing thanks to all who have supported the group along the way, the statement continued: "After such a long time with the uncertainty of this hanging over all of us, locals here now have some peace of mind that our local environment and rural way of life are protected." 

The case has now been sent back to An Coimisiun Pleanála for reconsideration. 

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