North Connacht 110 kV Project

The North Connacht 110 kV Project will add a new line to the electricity grid in Co Mayo and Co Roscommon. 

This new line will strengthen the grid in Connacht. It will provide electricity capacity to meet increasing electricity demand, supporting economic growth in the area. By connecting to renewable energy, it will also help to meet Ireland's climate action targets.

The plans for this project include:

Benefits of the Project

As of 2020, around 40% of the electricity that we use in Ireland comes from renewable sources. The government’s Climate Action Plan aims for 80% of electricity from renewables.

The North Connacht 110 kV Project is an important step in reaching this target. A large amount of renewable energy is already generated in north Connacht. More is planned over the coming years. 

The current electricity grid in the area cannot manage the expected flow of power. We need to improve the electricity grid in the region. The new circuit will do this, strengthening the grid in the region, which will help attract industry and drive economic growth.

The tender phase for the main underground 110 kV cabling contract has been completed.

Construction works are expected to begin in early 2026 and conclude in 2028, while associated substation and overhead line works have advanced and are due to conclude in 2026.

We will continue engagement with local councils, national road authorities and other stakeholders throughout this stage to ensure optimal project delivery solutions, and will continue to collaborate with the community forum on the project's associated community benefit strategy.

The North Connacht Community Forum brings together people and organisations from the area. It means we can discuss, understand, and properly consider stakeholder and community views.

The Irish charity Development Perspectives is the independent chair of this community forum.

The role of the forum is to:

New membership to the forum is now closed.

The Fund 

The North Connacht Community Benefit Fund has been established by EirGrid to recognise the important role of local communities who are hosting this grid infrastructure and to acknowledge the temporary disruption which may be caused within proximity of the cable line during the construction phase of the project. 

The fund has a total value of €1.53 million which is released in three phases: when construction begins, mid-way through the project, and when the project is energised. 

The overall aim is to increase public and environmental wellbeing in the community and to leave a positive legacy in the communities hosting this grid infrastructure. 

Following a community consultation in 2024 and endorsement by the North Connacht Community Forum in 2025, EirGrid and the independent fund administrator, SECAD, published the North Connacht Community Benefit Strategy.  

Latest news 

EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid have announced Phase 1 of the North Connacht Community Benefit Fund, with funding of €612,000 being made available to community groups and voluntary organisations operating within 2km of the cable route, a map of the area of benefit can be viewed here.  

The funding, associated with the construction of a new 110 kV underground cable between Moy substation in Ballina and Tonroe substation in Ballaghderreen, will be open for applications until Friday 13 March at 5pm. 

This is the first of three phases of funding available to communities in the project area, with the total fund amounting to €1.53 million.  

The fund covers three activity streams, with €204,000 available through the community stream, €204,000 via the sustainability stream, and €204,000 via the biodiversity stream.  

This funding will be administered by SECAD, who were appointed independent fund administrator for this project by EirGrid in 2023.    

EirGrid and SECAD will host three information clinics in the area during the application period to assist groups with any queries. 

How to make an application  

To place communities at the heart of this fund, a collaborative, ‘bottom-up approach’ was adopted, whereby local communities and stakeholders were provided with an opportunity to inform and shape the community benefit strategy. 

Please see the Community Benefit Strategy to learn more about how this fund has been shaped by the communities impacted.   

More information on the guidelines for making an application and the rules of the fund can be found below.  

Step 4C - Documents

Step 4B - Documents

Step 4A - Documents

Step 4

Step 3

Step 2

Community Forum Minutes of meetings

Community Benefit Fund