Digital newsroom Assignment 2 - News Article

An Armagh pressure group have vowed to continue its campaign against the erection of the North-South Interconnector in the border counties.

Safe Energy for Armagh and Tyrone (SEAT) are planning a poster blitz of the affected areas to inform locals on the dangers of overhead power lines.

“We will be putting up ‘No pylons here’ posters in the area, to let the local people in the area know the danger that these overhead power lines can be to their health,” said the group’s spokesman, John Woods.

The Interconnector is a joint project between Eirgrid, Irelands state owned electricity transmission provider, and NIE, the Northern Ireland equivalent.

Plans are to build an 80 kilometre Interconnector from County Meath to County Tyrone. It will carry approximately 400Kv of electricity from a sub station near Navan, through Cavan, Monaghan, Armagh and finally to Moy.


SEAT argues that by using overhead power lines it is greatly increasing health and environmental risks in the one kilometre radius of the connector.

“The connector is a silent killer. Studies have shown that cases of leukaemia and depression are significantly increased in the one kilometre radius of these pylons,” according to Mr Woods.


The pressure group claims that land and properties within a possible distance of 150 metres, could be devalued by as much as 50%.

They have an alternative idea for the electricity to be transported that, they say, will minimise environmental and health risks.

“By putting underground cables down instead of overhead power lines we are minimising the dangerous health and environmental issues that could arise from pylons. These pylons are 100 feet high and 40 feet wide so to put them underground also saves the public from looking at these unsightly structures.”

“NIE have not completed an environmental impact study on the area, on what effects these overhead pylons will have on the area.”

NIE were unavailable to comment, however their website gives reasons why they are not considering putting underground cables in place.

“It is possible that underground voltage cables at this voltage level could be at least ten times more expensive to install and commission than the equivalent overhead line.”

The topic was recently debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly, with all the major parties in attendance. All of the MLA’s voted to oppose the Interconnector, something that was pleasing to SEAT.

“We are pleased with this. However, the minister of the Environment, Arlene Foster, could not fully commit until she awaits planning permission.”

Indeed planning permission could remain a pivotal issue in this debate. John Woods, along with local farmer’s union member Willy Anderson, have been selected by SEAT members to represent them in any negotiations, and letters of authority have been handed to NIE by the group.

John Woods believes that the issue will not go away as long as people understand the issues that could affect them.

“We saw with the protest at Bective abbey in Meath, when over 2000 people turned up to protest against the interconnector, that people are unhappy with NIE and Eirgrid’s decision to have this overhead interconnector. SEAT will be distributing leaflets and putting up posters in the coming weeks to let the public know the risks.”

Digital newsroom assignment 2 - feature article

SEAT is one of a number of Pressure groups that have been set up across the North East of Ireland to protest at the building of the North- South Interconnector. But who are they? Why are they campaigning so hard to stop these pylons?

When the news broke that Eirgrid and NIE were proposing this interconnector through the fields and countryside of the border counties, John Woods knew that there was quite a problem. These new pylons were going to be erected close to his home in Madden. It was then that he felt a pressure group was needed to challenge these proposals, and to represent the local people who would be affected by these plans.

“The group was set up in June 2007 when the proposals for the interconnector were made known. We are a cross community group that have come together to voice our concerns at the overhead power lines from the parishes of Derrynoose to the Moy.”

Mr Woods and Willy Anderson, a local farmer from Killylea and a member of the Farmers Union are the spokesmen for SEAT during any negotiations with NIE. The issue has already been raised in Stormont with all MLA’s opposing the idea of an overhead interconnector.

The route of the interconnector has been made known, and it is estimated that between five thousand and eight thousand people will be living in the one kilometre radius.

SEAT has been meeting up with local councillors in recent months, including a residents meeting with SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley. One of the main topics of these meetings has been looking at scientific studies that apparently show the dangers of living near these power lines.

“At one meeting Doctor Robert Coghill presented the latest scientific background on over head power lines. The results were startling: Living 500 metres from these pylons, the chances of a child contracting cancer is doubled. NIE are proposing a distance of 200 metres distance from the pylons.”

There has been more than one pressure group formed since the plans have been made public. A group called North East People against Pylons (NEPP) is also prominent in campaigning in the Republic of Ireland.

“We have worked closely with NEPP with regards this issue. They are campaigning for exactly the same thing that we are campaigning for so it’s vital we stay together on this.”

A recent protest against the proposed pylons in Bective Abbey, County Meath drew in excess of two thousand people. That in itself shows to John woods that people are prepared to get their voice heard on the pylon issue.

“We went down to the protest in Bective Abbey. Over 2000 people turned up which shows that people do not want these overhead pylons on their land.”

Multimedia for digital newsroom assignment two

This is a multimedia map showing the route of the North South interconnector between Moy and Derrynoose.
View Larger Map

Where does Argentina lie in the World Rugby stage?

Rugby Blog UK has reported that Argentina, who lie third in the world at the moment after their World Cup exploits, will compete in the Churchill Cup. Does this suffice, or should the Pumas be allowed to enter one of the major world competitions, and show their credentials regularly?

The other Tri-Nations countries are reluctant to let Argentina join and take a cut of the money generated, with some reports suggesting it could be at least another four years before Argentina is considered.

Is this fear? Why would Australia, New Zealand and South Africa not want another competitive team to join their ranks? There wasn’t as much rancour when Italy joined the then Five Nations competition.

But can Argentina logistically enter the Six Nations? Surely a team from the Southern hemisphere cannot compete in the Northern Hemispheres premier competition?

Nearly all of Argentina’s players are based in Europe, so that doesn’t particularly hold too much of a problem. With Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium being mooted as a possible stadium for the Pumas, maybe a new Seven Nations tournament isn’t too far away. Their entry into the Churchill Cup may be the first stepping stone.

How will the Newcastle soap opera end?

BBC's football correspondant Mike Ingham described the appointment of Kevin Keegan as a soap opera when it happened BBC Sport . Well, soap operas invariably do not have happy endings, and it is beginning to look ever more possible that Newcastle could plummit right out of the Premier League this year.

A total of three points from a possible 33 is relegation form, and if Newcastle do not start winning soon they are in danger of realising their worst nightmare.

But is it all Keegans fault? Surely the Toon Army weren't expecting a return to 1996 form straight away? For a club that has won nothing for well over thirty years they demand success and don't want someone there that won't give them it. The pressure that every manger since Keegan has been under has been exceptionally suffocating.

Todays Newcastle Chronicle states that Ashley is desperate to keep Keegan at St James Park. Newcastle chronicle But, according to the Guardian Unlimited Keegan has said to Mike Ashley he cannot guarantee Newcastle's survival.

How many more twists and turns will there be in this soap opera before the season is out? And who will be cast as the villain? Keegan? Ashley? The team? Only time will tell.

Arsenal want to win title for Eduardo - but do they have the strength?

After saturdays emotional day at St Andrews, Mathieau Flamini declared that he wanted to win the title for stricken Eduardo. But can Arsenal cope with all the pressure of the title race?

The William Gallas show that was premiered at the end of Saturdays game seems to show the cracks that are appearing at the Emirates.

Kevin Mc Carra, in his blog http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/02/26/arsenal_can_beat_anyone_includ.html makes the point that Arsene Wengers apparent success at bringing in young, raw talent and turning them into world class professionals is masking the instability and eccentricity of the Arsenal manager.

Gallas making a fool of himself was bad enough, and he was roundly criticised for his reaction, which the Telegraph on Sunday described as "petulant" http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/02/24/sfgbir124.xml , however, the reaction of Wenger to the challenge on Eduardo showed a man who is under pressure.

The fact that Wenger, whose eyesight has consistantly let him down when major incidents occur, even saw this tackle is in itself an achievement. To state that Martin Taylor should never play again is beyond crazy, a view shared by http://www.epltalk.com/arsene-wenger-wants-lifetime-ban-for-taylor/ . Kevin Mc Carra thinks that Arsenals season is in danger of imploding. With crazy comments and pantomime antics of Wenger and Gallas, this could happen sooner rather than later.

My walk from Avenham Park to Foster Building

Will Trappatoni be worth the wait?

After the sacking of Brian Kerr, John Delaney, CEO of the FAI, stood up and claimed Irelands next appointment would be a world class one. This of course never materialised as Ireland trudged through an abject and utterly disastrous European qualifying campaign. Now, two years after proclaiming a world class manager, have Ireland finally got just that?

His trophy record is impressive, 23 domestic trophies in some of the best leagues in Europe, in fact only bettered by Jock Stein and Alex Ferguson.

So, can the "Squadfather", as the Sunday World dubbed him yesterday, take Ireland out of the dark days of international football and towards the light of South Africa 2010?

Hopefully. He has a good core team to work with. Shay given and Richard Dunne give some solidity to the team, while Ireland now have flair, which they havent had in years, with Mc Geady, Hunt and Robbie Keane, if firing on all cylinders. Throw in a few up and coming players, Andy Keogh, Anthony Stokes, and the future certainly looks bright.

With Trappatoni's knowledge and experience it looks as if Ireland are starting to turn the corner, and all expectations will be on "Il Trap" come May time and the friendly with Serbia.

Has Irish rugby turned a corner....again?

After 50 minutes of yesterdays six nations encounter the knives were out for Eddie O' Sullivan. Again.

Irelands backs were being cut apart at will by the dynamic back line of Heymans, Rougerie, and Irelands perennial assasin in chief, Vincent Clerc. The lowly performance against Italy looked like being eclipsed by a slaughter in the Parisian evening.

Somewhere, somehow though, irelands forwards decided enough was enough. New faces Jamie Heaslip and Bernard Jackman stood shoulder to shoulder with experienced men like John Hayes and David Wallace and drove at the French time and time again, their persistance paying off with two tries and nearly a famous, unlikely victory.

Once again though, Ireland come out of a bruising encounter as moral victors. Where do they go from here? According to bbc.co.uk Irish manager Eddie O' Sullivan has mixed emotions on the game yesterday, describing it as "Gut wrenching," but adding that he was "very proud of our players."

But can we say where Irish rugby is after this performance? No according to www.independent.ie who believe that the game against Scotland will be much more telling on this Ireland team.

With players like Paul O' Connell and Shane Horgan to come back into the team, Ireland rugby is not in the dire position that was being forecast after the Italy game.

They just need another game to show how far they have come.

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Over the course of the next few months I will be updating this blog weekly, discussing sporting events that are making news at the time.

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