‘We have no intention of granting access to Eirgrid or ESB, and without access how can they construct it?

"We are not for turning. We are determined to fight it. We have no intention of granting access to Eirgrid or ESB and without access how can they construct it," said Nobber farmer, Ger Brady on the proposed North South Interconnector.

"Everybody I have spoken to is agreed. The longer this has gone on, the more determined people have become."

"This is a legacy I don't want to leave behind. It would be a horrible legacy to leave for for my children and future generations.

"We as farmers have a big responsibility as caretakers of the countryside. We don't wear that responsibility lightly. Through our lifetime the ambition to leave the land in a better place for the next generation is very strong. To allow this project go ahead as proposed would be a travesty. Our elected representatives have stood idly by but we won't."

He said this project over the years has sucked a huge amount of money time energy and social capital out of communities along the route.

"We can't allow that go to waste. I think that is why we are passionate about this."

Ger has a dairy, beef and tillage farm at Cruicetown and Brittas, Nobber. "Two of the pylons are proposed for my land at Brittas. The power line would run down directly thought he middle of my farm.

"We have always felt they have tried to bulldoze it through from the start. There has been no engagement with the community. They portray themselves as community based, but that is only when it suits them.

"We are not against technology but they powerlines should go underground.

"In other countries they are taking down pylons in beauty spots and putting them underground. We have beautiful countryside and they are proposing to destroy it.

"I don't want to work under those power lines day in day out. My neighbours don't want to live alongside and underneath them. I have a family of three. They were children when this all started and they are in their 20s now. I don't want these power lines affecting the health of my children and then their children. I want them to be able to carry on farming safely."

Ger asked how can Eirgrid or ESB construct the interconnector when they have never been on the lands they are planning to build it on.

"The conditions of planning need to be adhered to and they haven't planning permission for access routes. It is important that the planning conditions are enforced. It is up to the county councils to enforce that and hopefully they will do that job".

Ger says he is objecting for a whole combination of reasons, but particularly because of health concerns and the destruction of the countryside.

"Why destroy the countryside, when there is a better way of doing it," he asked.