A proposed Irish Sea windfarm will be "detrimental" to Co Down tourism, a councillor is warning.
The Oriel Windfarm project is being jointly developed by Belgian group Parkwind NV and the Republic of Ireland's state owned ESB (Electricity Supply Board).
But a Newry, Mourne and Down District councillor who fears for the local visitor economy has labelled the renewable energy turbines as "monsters" that will "dominate" the coastline.
Read more: Northern Ireland offshore windpower plan has 'ambition' to power one million homes.
Mournes DUP rep, Henry Reilly said: "I attended a presentation on what the proposed windfarm off the Co Louth coast would look like and I was totally shocked.
"It includes 24 wind turbines, each at 850 feet tall and a huge transformer the size of an oil rig.
"All this would be in clear view from most of Mourne with Cranfield beach looking straight into it and will dominate the scenery.
"I believe it would be very detrimental to Mourne with no benefit to this area.
"It would highly damage the tourism industry that has massive potential here.
"The planning application will be the responsibility of the Republic's planning authority that can ignore our concerns.
"It's notable that they do not place these monsters on the Irish west coast, where there is more wind to protect the Wild Atlantic Way and the tourism income it generates."
The Oriel Windfarm project is currently holding a combination of in-person and virtual events outlining the details of the project, and to address questions raised.
The six week consultation process will end later this month.
On the company website, Parkwind country manager, Garrett Connell said: “The project has been designed to fit within available electricity transmission infrastructure and will connect into existing power lines near Ardee, via a new underground cable from the shore.
"This will enable a significant reduction in Ireland’s carbon emissions and our reliance on imported fossil fuels, in an efficient way.”
The windfarm project has received Maritime Area Consent (MAC) by the minister for the environment, climate and communications, Eamon Ryan TD in late December.
The MAC is a formal consent that must be granted by the Irish government before an offshore windfarm can apply for planning permission to An Bord Pleanála.
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