The Irish planning authority, An Bord Pleanála, has refused planning permission for a wind farm at Gaybrook Demesne near Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

Residents had raised concerns about the proposed development, which consisted of nine 125-metre and 135-metre turbines after the application was lodged by Galetech Energy Developments Ltd.

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The Irish Times has reported that a spokesman, Tom Wallace, of the Midlands Industrial Wind Turbine Action Group, expressed relief at the decision.

"These turbines would have been one and a half times the height of the Statue of Liberty and taller than the Spire in Dublin."

However, Galetech Director Darren Sherry described the planning refusal as unfortunate. Mr Sherry doesn't believe there is a growing resistance to wind farms.

"There hasn't been a dramatic change in terms of planning," he said.

(BMcC/GK)