Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Updated 5.10pm
AS PLANNING SAGAS tend to do in Ireland, Apple’s battle to build a data centre in Athenry is dragging on and on.
At the start of 2015, the US tech giant applied for permission to build a large data centre in a forest near the Galway town. Almost three years on and a final decision on planning is still pending.
It looks like Apple might be finally getting fed up. Yesterday the Bloomberg news agency reported that the company has warned Irish officials that the lengthy delays could jeopardise the future of the project.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie today, East Galway TD Seán Canney said reports questioning Apple’s commitment to Athenry are incorrect.
He said he spoke to Leo Varadkar this morning, noting the Taoiseach confirmed he was in contact with Apple executives last week.
“They confirmed to him that they are still committed to the project in Athenry. Apple have expressed their concerns in the delays which is understandable, but the bottom line is Apple are still committed to the project in Athenry.
“I will continue to work with the people of Athenry and all the State agencies and the Taoiseach to ensure delivery of this project,” Canney said.
So why has one of the biggest companies in the world struggled so much to get what should be a fairly straightforward project over the line?
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happened so far.
February 2015
Apple announces it will apply for planning permission from Galway County Council to build a data centre on a greenfield site in Derrydonnell, near Athenry.
It is estimated that it would cost €850 million to develop the site, and between 100 and 150 people would work at the centre upon its completion.
The site covers a space the size of about 23 soccer fields. It would be the single biggest private sector investment in Connacht, and was welcomed by many locals.
At the same time, plans for a similar facility in Denmark were revealed. It was intended that both would be operational by 2017.
June 2015
Galway County Council says it needs more detail from Apple about its plans. It was intended that the centre would be completely powered by renewable energy. The council was concerned about how this would work.
September 2015
Galway County Council grants planning permission for the data centre.
Almost immediately objections are lodged with An Bord Pleanála by eight objectors. Most complain about the negative environmental impact the data centre could have.
May 2016
After requesting more information on the issue, An Bord Pleanála holds an oral hearing to hear all arguments for and against the data centre.
August 2016
An Bord Pleanála grants Apple planning permission to build the data centre. In response to environmental concerns, the body said that the facility ”would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity”.
October 2016
Three people apply for a judicial review of An Bord Pleanála’s decision on environmental grounds, saying the data centre could destroy the local forest. These are local residents Allan Daly and Sinéad Fitzpatrick and Wicklow resident and landowner Brian McDonagh.
November 2016
Residents in Athenry, most of whom are in favour of the proposal, demonstrate in favour of Apple. More than 2,000 people attend a rally in support of the plan to build a data centre near the town, which has a total population of about 4,000 residents.
February 2017
Brian McDonagh’s objections are dismissed, however Allan Daly and Sinéad Fitzpatrick’s applications for a judicial review are successful.
The case is fast-tracked and is due to be heard in the Commercial Court in March.
June 2017
After Justice Paul McDermott reserved his judgment in March, it was anticipated that a final decision would be made on the project near the end of June. This is delayed again, and a ruling is expected at the end of July.
In the meantime, Apple announces it is building a second data centre in Denmark. This followed its completion of its first data centre in the country, plans for which were announced on the same day as the centre in Galway.
July 2017
The decision is postponed again, and is now scheduled to be heard on 12 October when it is expected that a final judgement will be delivered.
Written by Paul O’Donoghue and posted on Fora.ie, with additional reporting by Órla Ryan and Christina Finn
Isnt god wonderful….
No….The universe is wonderful.
Your obviously more religous than scientific otherwise you would know your so called God did not create the Universe. Or this World for that matter.
I think there was a slight hint of sarcasm in James’s comment which you all missed
Nice work putting the caption over the actual object in the image…
Erhhhhhh…….they didn’t. Its above the word “at” in the caption right on the edge of the outer ring.
Infinitesmily grand!
Is that we’re the little bo***x Fitzpatrick comes from????
The world is flat, one god created all this and we don’t know who created him/her/it?
I’ve got your ring and new moon right here.
God
Invisible pink unicorn
SCIENCE SHOWS THAT THE UNIVERSE CANNOT BE ETERNAL because it could not have sustained itself eternally due to the law of entropy (increasing net energy decay, even in an open system). Einstein showed that space, matter, and time all are physical and all had a beginning. Space even produces particles because it’s actually something, not nothing. Even time had a beginning! Time is not eternal.
The law of entropy doesn’t allow the universe to be eternal. If the universe were eternal, everything, including time (which modern science has shown is as physical as mass and space), would have become totally entropied by now and the entire universe would have ended in a uniform heat death a long, long time ago. The fact that this hasn’t happened already is powerful evidence for a beginning to the universe.
Popular atheistic scientist Stephen Hawking admits that the universe had a beginning and came from nothing but he believes that nothing became something by a natural process yet to be discovered. That’s not rational thinking at all, and it also would be making the effect greater than its cause to say that nothing created something. The beginning had to be of supernatural origin because natural laws and processes do not have the ability to bring something into existence from nothing. What about the Higgs boson (the so-called “God Particle”)? The Higgs boson does not create mass from nothing, but rather it converts energy into mass. Einstein showed that all matter is some form of energy.
The supernatural cannot be proved by science but science points to a supernatural intelligence and power for the origin and order of the universe. Where did God come from? Obviously, unlike the universe, God’s nature doesn’t require a beginning.
EXPLAINING HOW AN AIRPLANE WORKS doesn’t mean no one made the airplane. Explaining how life or the universe works doesn’t mean there was no Maker behind them. Natural laws may explain how the order in the universe works and operates, but mere undirected natural laws cannot explain the origin of that order. Once you have a complete and living cell then the genetic code and biological machinery exist to direct the formation of more cells, but how could life or the cell have naturally originated when no directing code and mechanisms existed in nature? Read my Internet article: HOW FORENSIC SCIENCE REFUTES ATHEISM.
WHAT IS SCIENCE? Science simply is knowledge based on observation. No one observed the universe coming by chance or by design, by creation or by evolution. These are positions of faith. The issue is which faith the scientific evidence best supports.
Some things don’t need experiment or scientific proof. In law there is a dictum called prima facie evidence. It means “evidence that speaks for itself.”
An example of a true prima facie would be if you discovered an elaborate sand castle on the beach. You don’t have to experiment to know that it came by design and not by the chance forces of wind and water.
If you discovered a romantic letter or message written in the sand, you don’t have to experiment to know that it was by design and not because a stick randomly carried by wind put it there. You naturally assume that an intelligent and rational being was responsible.
I encourage all to read my popular Internet articles: NATURAL LIMITS TO EVOLUTION and HOW FORENSIC SCIENCE REFUTES ATHEISM
Visit my newest Internet site: THE SCIENCE SUPPORTING CREATION
Babu G. Ranganathan*
(B.A. Bible/Biology)
Author of popular Internet article, TRADITIONAL DOCTRINE OF HELL EVOLVED FROM GREEK ROOTS
*I have given successful lectures (with question and answer period afterwards) defending creation before evolutionist science faculty and students at various colleges and universities. I’ve been privileged to be recognized in the 24th edition of Marquis “Who’s Who in The East” for my writings on religion and science.
Wake me up when you’ve finished the lecture. Time and place. This is neither.
There’s a spacecraft leaving tomorrow for it be on it the lot of you
have your say