The last remaining ESB cooling tower built in the 1950s to exploit peat power is to be demolished.
The tower at Bellacorrick was one of the seven that once dominated the flat Midland bog landscape.
Two reports have found that to preserve the tower would cost several million euro.
According to a report in Heritage Outlook magazine, the demolition of the two cooling towers at Rhode, Co Offaly, last March left only one tower standing. "Over the years the \ became symbolic of the electrification of Ireland and their presence on the flat landscape of the midlands began to be looked on with great affection," said the report by Ms Mary Hanna, architectural officer with the Heritage Council.
That body asked the ESB to commission an independent survey to see if at least one tower could be left in place.
"The main findings of this study concurred with the ESB's earlier findings that if one tower was to be retained the cost of repair would be several million euro and funding would be required for long-term maintenance and the cost of insurance would also be prohibitive," the report continued.