There’s mixed emotions among Bord na Mona workers at Mount Dillon as operations resume at Lough Ree Power.
The station in lanesboro had been off line during the summer due to environmental issues affecting the river Shannon – but with the onset of cooler temperatures, the ESB says it is now in a position to resume production on the site.
Last year, An Bord Pleanala ruled that the station's planning permission would not be extended beyond 2020 and so the current level of production will only continue for the next number of weeks.
Pat Cox is one of a small number of Bord na Mona workers still employed to supply peat to the power station, he says while it’s good to see the smoke rising again, they are aware that it’s only a matter of weeks before it’s closed permanently.