#No.40 Voice, Value and Who Gets Heard: A Conversation with Dermot Devlin

In this episode, I sit down with disability rights advocate, TEDx speaker, and campaigner Dermot Devlin to explore what it means to be heard in systems that aren’t always designed to listen. Originally from Greencastle, Dermot brings a powerful mix of lived experience, sharp insight, and every day honesty  working across grassroots activism, practical change, and policy influence. This conversation  opens up bigger questions about voice, power, and participation in society. 🔍 In the  episode, we explore: What “access”  means beyond the obvious Who gets included in decisions  and who gets left out The reality of consultation vs genuine participation Parallels between disability advocacy and community struggles Why economic arguments so often override everything else What a truly inclusive, healthy community might look like 🎧 Listen now and share this episode with anyone interested in environmental justice, public participation and the future of the Sperrins. 💬 Share your thoughts on the public inquiry process  ➕  Follow the podcast by hitting the follow button 🔁 Repost to raise awareness #dontmineus #SaveOurSperrins #notoxicmining  #EnvironmentPodcast #JusticePodcast   LINKS FOR THIS INTERVIEW  https://youtube.com/@mywayaccess?si=St0MI6ygdj5iN9qN   SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins   Save Our Sperrins YouTube Channel    https://www.youtube.com/@SaveOurSperrins   LINKS TO OTHER RESOURCES  http://caimnetwork.org/mining-in-ireland/ Mining in Ireland is a contentious issue, with 19% of the Republic of Ireland and 27% of Northern Ireland’s land area issued in prospecting licences. While mining companies claim to bring jobs and development, communities like those near Tara Mines and Gypsum Ltd have faced significant environmental and social impacts. Communities Against the Injustice of Mining (CAIM) is an all-island network resisting prospecting and extraction. https://yestolifenotomining.org/ The Yes to Life, No to Mining website is a global hub for communities resisting destructive mining projects. It shares stories from the frontlines, practical resources for local campaigns, and research that exposes the true costs of extraction. The network connects people around the world who are protecting their land, water, and ways of life, and promotes alternatives grounded in care for nature and community wellbeing. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/after-the-goldrush-by-gerry-mcgovern/id1681123169 Do Irish people know that Ireland has been selected as a Green sacrifice song for the so-called green technology, renewable energy transition from the beautiful wilds of Clare, Wicklow and Leitrim to the outstanding natural beauty of the Sperrin mountains of Tyrone. Rural Ireland is on Big Mining's chopping block. This podcast is about the power of community, about how communities of Ireland are organising to stop this disaster happening. For short term returns, the government wants to sell Ireland  to mining interests as silently and quietly as possible. Let's make some noises. We will try to unravel why the Irish government is doing this   LINKS TO Greencastle People’s Office(GPO) Facebook Page - and the site of the GPO ( The GPO is a humble caravan which has become a hub for the campaign against the goldmine )     https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063579042613&sk=about   https://maps.app.goo.gl/Cz7FHdUoi5ByxECz7?g_st=ipc