Santa blows into Mayo windfarm visitor centre
A festive and fun wind blew through Oweninny Windfarm Visitor Centre, as they welcomed a very special visitor - Santa Claus.
More than 1,000 people from across Mayo and beyond popped in to the centre over two days and as well as meeting the man himself, guests also enjoyed plenty of other Christmas magic. This included festive face painting, getting to meet and greet with some Disney character favourites, an interactive Christmas game zone and gifts for every child in attendance.
The event was supported by BnM and ESB.
Speaking about the special visit, Kathy Rowland, manager of Oweninny Windfarm Visitor Centre, said: “It was great to welcome so many families to Oweninny Windfarm Visitor Centre to mark the season that’s in it. We wanted to be able to offer the community a fun and festive occasion and we were astounded by the level of interest. More than 1,000 people joined us last weekend and it was amazing to be able to host so much seasonal cheer and see all those little smiles.
“It’s been a very busy year for the centre. Between our family fun days for Global Wind Day, Science Week, our STEM education programmes for local schools, hosting an evening as part of the Mary Robinson Climate and Nature Conference and more, there’s been a lot going on. Throughout all these events we’ve been thrilled to welcome so many people and to give them the opportunity to learn more about the importance of wind energy and renewable power, as well as the history and ecology of the area.
“The visit of Santa was a fantastic way to wrap things up for the year. As we look ahead, we hope we’ll be able to offer even more opportunities for people to learn, connect and come together at the Oweninny Windfarm Visitor Centre in 2026.”
Jointly developed by BnM and ESB, Oweninny is Ireland’s largest onshore windfarm, delivering 192MW of clean, renewable energy on an annual basis.
The Oweninny Windfarm Visitor Centre is located on site and serves as a state of the art resource that has been designed to showcase the importance of wind energy and sustainability, illustrating how this renewable form of power benefits the country and the local community. The centre does this through engaging, interactive exhibits and colourful, specially curated displays which aim to help inform and educate visitors – from schoolchildren to adults alike.
Photographer Robert Justynski captured all the fun from the day in the photos below: