There has been a mixed reaction in north Kerry to An Bord Pleanála's decision to refuse permission for the proposed development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and power station on the Shannon estuary near Tarbert.
The decision was based on Government policy on the importation of fracked gas, the planning board said, adding that it would be inappropriate to permit or proceed with the development of any LNG terminals in Ireland pending the review of energy supply.
As he digested the news at his home, John McElligott was beaming with happiness.
"It’s like winning ten All-Irelands for Kerry, that’s how good it is" said Mr McElligott, one of those involved in the 'Safety Before LNG’ campaign group.
He said he is "thrilled" at what he describes as an evidence-based decision and hopes the move will end a long-running effort to ensure there is no LNG facility constructed on the Shannon estuary.
Central to his argument was that the project would have led to the same volume of emissions as that from hundreds of thousands of dairy cows.
Mr McElligott is now calling for the return of the vast landbank owned by Shannon LNG so that the community can find alternative use for it.
Others, however, are not so pleased.
Noel Lynch and John Fox have been among, what they say is, a large majority locally in favour of the plan.
"There’s terrible disappointment," said Mr Lynch, who wondered why the decision was arrived at ahead of the publication of an energy review commissioned by the Government.
"This has been going on since 2006 and still nothing has happened here. We need gas as a transition fuel and the only way we can guarantee that is to have our own terminal."
Permission refused for Shannon Estuary LNG terminal
The Ballylongford resident's views are shared by John Fox from nearby Tarbert.
He said the plant would have been a much-needed boost for the region, driving investment and providing much needed employment opportunities.
Mr Fox said frustration about the An Bord Pleanála decision is widely felt.
"When this thing came about 16 years ago, people had hope in their hearts. We thought something was going to happen that would be worthwhile.
"We need something to happen here but instead there’s a palpable sense of frustration around today.
"People saw this as the last chance for a site that has laid idle for around 60 years."
Mr Fox said the ruling will continue the demise of the adjoining villages and townlands and that an opportunity to drive real progress has been missed.
Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher said the decision is "disappointing" and "shortsighted".
He said it "undermines Ireland's capacity to guarantee energy security and energy supply".
Speaking to RTÉ's Drivetime, he said the Corrib gas field is being exhausted over the next number of years and Eamon Ryan in London last week signed "a memorandum of understanding with the UK government to guarantee gas supply to Ireland in the years ahead".
"So effectively we are completely dependent on gas coming through the UK, we're dependent on the good will of our neighbours.
"We had an opportunity to develop this particular facility at Ballylongford to guarantee that we could at least import LNG and use it in the short and medium-term while we are going through a transition period."
Mr Kelleher said Ireland is going to develop wind energy over the next number of years, but in the meantime does need to have the capacity to have a "base low generation and gas is what's going to do it for the next number of years until such time as we move to hydrogen conversion from wind energy".
