It was only last year that a phone mast application was submitted to Kerry County Council seeking permission to build a 30 meter latticed mast, ie “eyesore right next to my property, a small residential surrounded by farmland. A large group of us living in the area lodged our objections to council and thankfully they rejected the application.

Now they are back again with the same application only they’ve moved the location one mile away. That might seem like a long way, but those signals are intended to cover a large area – and for some reason 5G really hurts my head. It also affects my nervous system. I suppose the best analogy is to say it’s like having a peanut allergy. I can eat peanuts without any side effects at all but for someone with a peanut allergy they are deadly.

So my new objection will be based on the fact that the proposed mast will be a gigantic eyesore on the Kerry Way, and because I’m electro-sensitive, and could be forced to move if the mast is built.

The Kerry Way is a 214 km circular walking trail that can be accessed at different points including the country road that I live on. People also come here walk and to kayak along the Kenmare river (an inlet) and take in the peaceful beauty of the surrounding area. Why build a huge mast here?

This is where the eco-tourist traffic flows and there’s already enough signal for anyone exploring the area to load maps or check messages. What will a 30 metre mast add to their experience other than be a visble blight on the landscape, in an area that has remained virtually unchanged for centuries?

And since the Kerry Way is very clearly signposted and visible on OS maps does anyone really need the intrusion or the extra download speed of an ugly 5G mast? People come here to unwind and slow down. They are not in that much of a hurry

I’ve already left two homes (and two countries) thanks to the proliferation of smart meters, and I really don’t want to continue being a “wi-fi refugee”. If the telecoms don’t slow down their attempts to saturate every square inch of this planet, those of us who live with ES will be forced to live in camper-vans. In fact many already do. Why does convenience always trump our right to live a healthy and “radiation free” life? Pretty soon there will be “nowhere to run (bay-bee) nowhere to hide”.

Sure, there will always be those who can’t stand the idea of a dropped phone call or a ‘quiet’ zone, but that dropped call is a potent reminder that life exists outside of, and beyond their mobile phone service, offering a glimpse into the world that existed before everyone had a smart phone clamped to their ear.

In 2011, when I became over-exposed to wireless technology due to a lifestyle change, I was told I had become “electro-sensitive” and that there was no cure or magic pill I could take to make me feel better- that the only thing I could do was stay away from everything wireless especially my mobile phone.

The migraine headaches I had been experiencing were so bad it didn’t take much to persuade me to trade “convenience” for a pain free life. And it wasn’t too difficult to disable the wi-fi on my laptop (“disable”, not turn it off in the drop down menu, there’s a big difference) and buy a modem that had no wi-fi capabilities (a little more difficult, but doable) and finally plug in my ethernet cable. I let go of the headaches, burning face and frightening heart palpitations, but letting go of my addictive mobile phone wasn’t as easy.

I was living on Salt Spring Island at the time and used to take the ferry over to Vancouver every couple of weeks. There was always time to kill at both the ferry terminal and during the ferry ride which lasted between two and a half to three hours.

The ferries served food in two different locations which always involved standing in line, and as I often travelled alone I would invariably check my phone while I was waiting. It took me a while to remember to bring a book with me, and find other ways to pass the time without calling, texting or scrolling through my phone. I had to re-learn how to simply enjoy reading or gazing out at the surrounding scenery- the north shore mountains, the ocean and the seagulls that escorted us from terminal to terminal all the way across the Georgia Straight and into Vancouver.

Thankfully, these days I don’t even think about having a mobile. I look back and laugh at the time I walked into a parking meter while reading an email on my phone. I feel the way I did before mobile phones became the “new normal” and took over our lives – I feel the way I did in my twenties and thirties when we talked to each other instead of a gadget. Yes, there were landlines but people could only call from home or from a phone box, if they were out. It wasn’t such a big deal. I grew up that way. Back then there were no distracting ring tones interrupting a meal or time with family and friends, and because there were no distractions I think we were more connected to one another. We didn’t have to make excuses like “I’m sorry I’m going to have to take this call” and leave the table in a restaurant. We were connected to reality not “virtual” reality.

I think our lives have been fractured by wireless technology,and I worry about young kids who are left alone with smart phones or tablet to play with for hours on end. There are many scientific studies that show wireless, microwave radiation can be harmful to young children, as their brains haven’t fully developed.

There is also an excellent website: Electromagnetic Sense Ireland which is worth checking out because you won’t find this information in the mainstream media. I’ve also posted additional info on the links page.