Irish planning body overturns Mayo data centre Sally Rooney opposed
An Coimisiún Pleanála revoked permission for a Killala, Co Mayo data centre, ruling it breached national climate policy after objections including one from novelist Sally Rooney.
What to know
- An Coimisiún Pleanála overturned planning permission for a €1.5 billion, 30,000sq m Killala data centre on the grounds it breached Irish climate policy.
- The commission found the developer, Avaio Digital's Mayo Data Hub Ltd, had no proven local electricity capacity or renewable energy agreement to support the facility.
- Novelist Sally Rooney, a Mayo resident, was among the objectors, arguing the project would waste electricity and risk blackouts amid the climate crisis.
- The decision comes as data centres account for nearly a quarter of Ireland's electricity use, up from 5% in 2015, despite government efforts to brand Ireland the 'Silicon Valley of Europe'.
Sally Rooney Novelist, Mayo resident and objectorAn Coimisiún Pleanála Irish national planning appeals commissionAvaio Digital / Mayo Data Hub Ltd US developer behind the proposed data centreMayo County Council Original planning authority
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Lit Hub frames the ruling as Rooney "defeating" a data center
Lit Hub's Dan Sheehan cast the planning reversal as a win for Rooney's activism, tying it to her broader climate writing and Palestine advocacy, and urging other authors to speak out against data centres.
“Sally Rooney just defeated a data center.”
— Dan Sheehan -
first by Mastodon, 5d ago · also Lit Hub
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first by Mastodon, 2d ago
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A West of Ireland data center objected to by novelist Sally Rooney has just had its planning permission overturned on the grounds that it breaches Irish national climate policy. The facility, which was granted planning permission last year despite pushback from local residents, was set to be built in Killala, Co Mayo by Mayo Data Hub Ltd, part of…
1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch
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"A West of Ireland data center objected to by novelist Sally Rooney had its planning permission overturned on the grounds that it breaches Irish national climate policy. Rooney lodged an objection in January, writing to Mayo County Council that permission for the centre would increase carbon emissions, cause risk of blackouts, and that “climate…
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- 1 day quiet
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Irish Times report spreads, drawing public approval
The Irish Times published details of the ruling; social reaction highlighted Rooney's and other locals' role in the outcome.
“Good for Sally Rooney and all the other people who objected to it.”
— irishlittimes.bsky.social -
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Good for Sally Rooney and all the other people who objected to it. "Data centre opposed by author Sally Rooney has planning overturned on climate concerns."
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background
An Coimisiún Pleanála overturns the permission — The commission ruled this week that the developer had failed to show sufficient local electricity supply or on-site/contracted renewable power, finding the project premature and in breach of the Climate Action Plan 2025.
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Rooney objects, citing climate and blackout risk — Rooney wrote to Mayo County Council arguing the data centre would increase carbon emissions and create a risk of blackouts, and questioned the value of much data centre activity as "pointless" advertising.
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Another objector appeals the approval — A separate objector lodged an appeal against the county council's approval with An Coimisiún Pleanála, Ireland's national planning appeals body.
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Mayo County Council grants the data centre permission — Mayo County Council approved planning permission for the Killala facility despite numerous objections, including one from Sally Rooney.