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An Bord Pleanála, Ireland’s national independent planning body, has refused planning permission for West Cork Distillers' industrial whiskey maturation warehousing complex in the rural townland of Tullig, near Reenascreena in West Cork.
Tullig and Reenascreena Community Group lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála in February 2023, after Cork County Council granted conditional planning permission for the development. Over two years later, on 20 February 2025, group members were celebrating the decision to overturn Cork County Council's ruling and refuse planning permission for the development.
In the Board Order document issued late last week, An Bord Pleanála concurred with sentiments highlighted by residents from the outset. It concluded that the nature and scale of such a development would be inappropriate and unsustainable in this rural area, would endanger public safety on the local road network, and would be "contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".
The long struggle to oppose the industrial development began way back in July 2021, when West Cork Distillers submitted its first planning application. Nearly four years later, An Bord Pleanála's decision brings both a feeling of jubilation and a palpable sense of relief to the Tullig and Reenascreena community.
Congratulations to Tullig and Reenascreena for your recent success. I lived in Kilmacabea, Gallows hill, up the back of Leap for nearly 10years and could see Carrigfadda from my Kitchen window… a heavenly part of the country. I am now living in Coachford Co. Cork where we similarly got a decision from An Bord Pleanála refusing a sub-standard development in a riparian wetland. We in our community were delighted until last Saturday 22nd February the developer moved in with an army of chainsaws and heavy machinery and levelled the lot. We’re now disconsolate. Remain vigilant is my abiding message to you. Although I think the circumstances for you there are very different. We are now activating every agency of enforcement available to halt further violations and to impose sanction upon the offenders. Coachford Co Cork is the community Facebook page if you’d like to look and @michaelquane is my Instagram with similiar details. Once again well done and congratulations with a gentle message: remain vigilant.