Tipperary church looks to modernise and add over 50 solar panels

St Cronan’s Catholic Church in Parkmore, Roscrea, could soon be powered in part by the sun, with the Roscrea Pastoral Council currently seeking planning permission for the installation of ground-mounted solar panels.

An agent acting on behalf of the parish council has submitted plans for two arrays, each containing 55 solar panels, to be installed in the sloping field behind the church.

According to the planning application, the proposal would also include inverters, batteries and a heat pump, which would be installed within and behind the existing boiler house in the lower part of the field.

The application states that the solar installation is intended to reduce the environmental impact of the church’s energy use.

“At present the church is heated by an oil boiler and lit by electricity from the grid, both partly or entirely burning fossil fuel,” the agent said.

“By installing a solar array of this scale in an empty piece of land which can generate electricity, [it] will reduce, and at times eliminate the energy requirements of the church and may contribute feed in power to help supply the wider community,” they said.

The proposal is also expected to deliver financial benefits for the parish in the longer term, once the initial installation costs have been recovered.

“Further, in the longer term, once the installation costs are paid off, the installation will save the church money and help sustain it into the future,” the agent stated.

“These are all positive results and should be encouraged and applauded.”

A decision is due from Tipperary County Council by November 9, 2026.