Fears for the safety of aircraft using Shannon airport has prompted An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for a wind farm four miles from Ennis.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) opposed farmers John and Tom Kilroughery's plan to develop a two-turbine 91m-high (300ft) wind farm less than 3.22km (two miles) north of the village of Ballyea.
The appeals board ruled that the proposal would be likely to give rise to an unacceptable degradation of radar equipment at Shannon airport.
"The proposed development would interfere with the safe and efficient navigation of aircraft in the vicinity and would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area."
Clare County Council refused planning last January because the proposal contravened the West Clare Area Plan and also because of fears over air safety.
The Kilroughery brothers appealed the decision to the board. It did not hold with the council's view that the wind farm would contravene the West Clare plan. However, although there were no objections from locals, it was the consistent opposition from the IAA that scuppered the plan. It said the wind farm would give rise to an unacceptable degradation of radar equipment at Shannon.
The IAA said aircraft are likely to fly low in the area and on the same radial as the proposed wind farm.
The inspector's report said there was conflicting evidence of a technical nature on the impact the proposal would have on Shannon airport.
"The IAA is the statutory authority for the regulation of safety standards of Irish Civil Aviation and is a prescribed body under the planning Acts. It is, therefore, the competent authority in this area and its views must be deemed to carry considerable weight.
"It would appear to me that a critical consideration highlighted by the IAA is that the airspace in the general vicinity of the site is substantially busier for air traffic than suggested in the consultant's reports lodged by the applicants.
"On the basis of the evidence available, therefore, I do not consider that the appeal should succeed in relation to the planning authority's second reason for refusal."
The board upheld the recommendation of the inspector, refusing planning permission.
John Kilroughery yesterday accepted the board's ruling. "We would not want to be responsible for interfering with equipment at Shannon airport. Life is too precious and there are enough accidents," he said.
