Win For Waterford Community Against Planned Data Center

Earlier this month, the Waterford City and County Council refused the planning proposal for the third largest data center in Ireland after a year of protests and awareness campaigns by the locals. 

Jane O’Brian, a resident of Waterford, stated to Aontacht Media in September 2026 that "data centres are like a humongous power plant that creates noise, pollution and destroy the environment.” 

The results were announced on 15 October, three days earlier than the scheduled timeframe. It was reported that the planning commission received more than 500 submissions with regard to the proposal. Many of the submissions were from local community groups, including Kilmeaden Against Industrialisation, the Blacknock/Kilmeaden Residents Association and Kilmeaden Community Network.   

The moment of joy surfaced on Facebook, with many TDs congratulating the efforts and resilience shown by the Kilmeaden community. 

Last weekend, Aontacht Media was on the ground in Ennis, where locals occupied the construction site of a 1.6 billion euro data center.