Eoin O’Sullivan, Project Director, reflects on the successes and progress of our General Environmental Team in 2025. After another year of growth, it is important for us to reflect on our successes and look forward to the exciting projects and opportunities that lie ahead in 2026. MKO continues to grow and expand across the full range of industry sectors with the following notable successes from our General Environmental team in 2025.
Project successes
- Coillte’s Derryclare Wild Western Peatland Project: secured planning permission from Galway County Council in May 2025. This project will involve the restoration of approximately 343 hectares of coniferous forestry plantations for the purposes of peatland restoration and the establishment of native scrub woodland. Our Environmental team prepared the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), which accompanied the planning application prepared by our Planning Team.
- Uisce Éireann Irish Water Nenagh Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade: secured planning permission from Tipperary County Council in August 2025. Our Environmental team prepared the EIAR, which accompanied the planning application prepared by our Planning Team.
- Roadstone Ltd. Barrigone Quarry Restoration Project: secured planning permission from Limerick City and County Council in October 2025. This project included the infilling and restoration of an existing quarry void over an area of approximately 4 hectares. The aim of the restoration is for the habitat to develop characteristics of the Annex I habitat present within the adjacent Barrigone Special Area of Conservation. Our Environmental team prepared the EIAR, which accompanied the planning application prepared by our Planning Team.
- Galway City Council appointed MKO and its project partners to the Masterplanning and Urban Design Services Framework in August 2025.
- EirGrid Group appointed our Environmental, Ecology and Planning teams to the Planning and Environmental Specialist Framework in October 2025.
Project progress
- Sligo, Leitrim, Northern Counties Railway (SLNCR) Greenway received Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) Approval for all Phase 2 deliverables and has advanced to Phase 3 (Design and Environmental Evaluation). Our Environmental team is preparing the EIAR with our project partners Arup for the 75km greenway from Carraroe, Co. Sligo to Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.
- Waterways Ireland Ulster Canal Restoration Phase 3.3 Project submitted for planning in November 2025. Our Environmental team prepared the EIAR, which accompanied the planning application.