Kilbrin residents angered by phone mast in GAA grounds

LOCALS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL HEALTH IMPACTS ON PUPILS IN NEARBY NATIONAL SCHOOL

There is anger in Kilbrin following the erecting of a telecommunications tower on the grounds of the local GAA club, with some residents worried about the effects it could have while claiming there was little consultation with the wider community before it went up.

Two locals who live close to Fr Kelleher Park told The Corkman that they are concerned that the mast, which is being constructed on behalf of Vantage Towers Limited with the consent of Kilbrin GAA, could affect the health of children attending the nearby national school, those playing and living within its proximity, property value and the village’s image.

While both residents said they were not opposed to a telecommunications tower to serve the area, they believe that the 30m structure (which received council planning on January 25) could be built in a more suitable area and plans for its construction should have been better communicated.

On the other hand, a letter signed by the principal and Board of Management chairperson of Kilbrin National School, located about 200 metres away from the mast, supported Vantage Towers’ planning application. The letter, received by Cork County Council on September 11 2023, stated the mast would improve the school’s “exceptionally weak” mobile phone coverage.

Some locals, like Pat Dennehy, are not convinced though. Pat, who lives close to the tower, said that he is very unhappy with where it has been located and how plans for it were “kept under wraps”.

Pat acknowledged that planning notices had been put up at the site of the mast, which was built to increase Vodafone coverage in the area, but locals had not paid too much attention to these as many presumed they were for a walkway around Fr Kelleher Park that Kilbrin GAA had previously received funding for.

He said that it was only when he and his neighbours noticed that work was being carried out in one specific corner of the grounds that they started wondering what was being built, leading to them discovering that the mast was being constructed.

As work continues on the mast, Pat organised a public meeting last week to hear how other people in the community felt about it.

“We held a meeting up in the community hall and I suppose we had up to 30 there. All the people that came weren’t happy with the mast and weren’t happy with how the mast went up,” he said.

“No meeting was held, no nothing was held. It was kept really quiet.

“There [was] secrecy all around it.”

Pat said that locals are concerned about the mast potentially leading to the devaluation of property in proximity to the tower and also that the structure is an “eyesore” that could affect the appearance of the village.

However, he said the biggest concern residents have about the tower is the potential it could have to cause health issues for those who study and play close to it.

“Most people at the meeting with young kids [were] concerned about the unknown health risks attached to it. No one can tell us ‘yes, it’s safe’,” Pat said.

“EPA reports state that they have no research saying that they’re not safe. My point of view is they are not there long enough to have any data.

“If you’ve got children on a pitch right under this, this is right on the endline of the pitch, so if you’re playing corner back you’re right underneath it.

“The playground is only 120m max away from it.”

Mike Dennehy, a cousin of Pat’s who also lives close to the tower, said he is also concerned about health issues that the tower could potentially cause. He said a lot of research he has seen indicates that towers are safe but other studies are not conclusive and he worries that it could affect his kids, who attend Kilbrin NS, which is located less than 200m away.

“If there’s any chance of a kid getting sick, and there mightn’t be, is it worth the risk? Is it worth it being that close to schools and GAA pitches?” Mike asked.

He said that the lack of communication from Kilbrin GAA and the national school about the planned construction of the mast has annoyed a lot of locals.

“What we needed was a sit down, probably with the company that was doing it and the GAA, [for] these people to give us the data behind this thing to say its 100% safe,” Mike said.

“I know the planning was up there and there was a little sheet and we should have read it but why did everyone keep this thing so quiet until this thing was up?”

He said that he would be eager to hear the view of the Kilbrin GAA, which has received several letters of complaint from locals regarding the tower according to Pat.

Pat said that following last week’s meeting, residents have been in contact with experts who are looking over the plans for the mast. An online petition has also been created and letters stating residents’ concerns have been sent to Cork County Council.

“There’s not a whole pile else we can do, we’re hoping that our concerns will be listened to and there are a couple of issues we feel with the plans,” Pat said.

“We’re not against telecommunications, the whole country uses it with internet, phones. This one is just in the wrong place,” Pat said.

“There’s hills and mountains, place it in the middle of nowhere, not where there’s lots of children playing.”

A spokesperson for Vantage Towers told The Corkman that the site in Kilbrin was identified as the best solution to meet current and forecast demands for new technologies and services in the area.

“The tower will significantly improve mobile and data services in an area previously identified as having poor coverage,” the spokesperson said.

Kilbrin GAA and Kilbrin National School did not respond to requests for comment from The Corkman.

A Kilbrin Community Council spokesperson told The Corkman that it is not involved with the mast and it is a separate group to the GAA, so it is not in a position to speak about the mast.