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Anti-nuclear protests at Carnsore Point

Environmental action in Ireland

collage of two posters for Carnsore Point anti-nuclear shows
by
Adrian Murphy (opens in new window) (Europeana Foundation)

In the late 1960s, the Irish government proposed to build the first nuclear power plant in Ireland.

It was planned to be built at Carnsore Point, a headland in County Wexford in the very southeast corner of the country. Originally drawn up in 1968, the plans proposed building four nuclear power stations during the 1970s. Following the global oil crisis in 1973, the plans were given renewed effort. However, due to changes in government, it was not until 1977 that the plans were being put into action.

By that time, the tide of public opinion had begun to shift against nuclear power. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, public opposition to the plans grew. Anti-nuclear groups were established across the country.

green postcard showing outline map of Ireland with headline text 'nuclear power? no thanks'

A series of rallies and concerts were held at Carnsore Point to protest the plans. Thousands of people attended these free festivals.

poster with orange / red gradient background, images of people protesting, list of names of performing acts and headline text 'Ireland's 1st anti-nuclear power show'
poster with illustration of people protesting and holding banners and headline text 'Ireland's 2nd anti-nuclear power show'

The first large-scale concert was held between 18 and 20 August 1978 with several more taking place up to August 1981. The first concert was known as 'Get to the Point' with the second in 1979 called 'Back to the Point'.

poster with yellow abstract sunlight illustration and black text, the headline reads 'GET TO THE POINT!'

The concerts featured popular folk and rock musicians and groups, such as traditional singer Christy Moore, Clannad, Donal Lunny and even U2, then still a young band from Dublin. Also on the bill were politicians and activists including Petra Kelly, the founder of the Green Party in Germany.

colour photograph of Christy Moore playing a guitar
black and white photograph of music band Clannad, five people sitting in a row, 4 men with long hair and beards with a woman sitting in the middle

The concerts called into question the idea that Ireland needed nuclear power. They brought public attention to environmental issues at a time when these were not as much a part of public discourse as they are now. For many, it was their first time taking part in a political or environmental protest.

In the 1980s, Irish governments, seeing the widespread public opposition, quietly dropped the plans for nuclear power stations at Carnsore Point. In 1999, electricity produced by nuclear fission was banned in Ireland - meaning that there are no nuclear power plants in the country. Carnsore Point today is the site of a wind-farm, which opened in the early 2000s.

colour photograph of a beach with wind turbines on the horizon

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