Mayo man scoops national energy award
TOURMAKEADY native Brendan Heneghan was honoured for his work in renewable energy at the first annual Irish Wind Industry Awards in Dublin last Friday night.
More than 300 people from Ireland’s leading renewable energy companies were joined by Minister Richard Bruton and MC broadcaster Ivan Yates at the Clontarf Castle Hotel to celebrate the achievements of award winners who are leading the way to a carbon free energy future for Ireland.
Brendan Heneghan, operations director with Ionic Consulting, was the big winner on the night, taking home the Person of the Year Award.
Speaking at the awards, Brendan said: “The wind industry has given me the chance to work throughout rural Ireland doing something as important as building renewable energy. I am honoured to be part of this drive for clean, green, Irish energy.
“In the 15 years I have been working in wind I have seen it grow to a point where we now have 30% of our electricity generated from wind. I honestly wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
David Connolly, CEO of the Irish Wind Energy Association, said: “Brendan is a powerhouse in Irish wind energy. There isn’t a company or person among our members that hasn’t worked with him in some capacity.
“He was a very popular choice for his industry knowledge, his passion for promoting a green, renewable future and his generosity of spirit and time.”
IWEA is Ireland’s largest renewable energy association and supports the development of wind energy as an essential, economical and environmentally friendly part of the country’s low-carbon energy future.
Said David Connolly: “These awards showcase the great work being done in the wind industry in Ireland. As leaders in renewable energy we have a great responsibility to do all we can to drive Ireland’s energy transition.
“I am proud that our industry has really risen to this challenge and delighted that initial figures indicate that wind energy provided over 30% of Ireland’s annual electricity demand for the first time in 2018.”