The Sperrins: Mining, Power & Community in Northern Ireland

What does “landscape” really mean when assessing the proposed Curraghinalt gold mine? In this Public Inquiry update, Professor Amy Strecker reflects on the Mine Waste Facility, restoration plans, visualisations and the wider industrialisation of the Sperrins, while we also touch on the proposed electricity connection and the cumulative impact on the AONB. Listen, follow the podcast and please share this episode — particularly with those living in and around the Sperrins. Link to  #14 Law ,Land and Justice Dr Amy Strecker on the Sperrins  Law, Land and Justice If you value thoughtful, commentary on the Inquiry, please consider following the podcast, sharing this episode, and joining our campaign mailing list to stay connected. https://dontmineus.com/newsletter/   SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins

What does “Acceptable” really mean when important engineering questions are still waiting to be answered? Dr Steven Emerman returns to the podcast for a third time to examine the Golder review of the Curraghinalt Gold Mine Waste Management Plan. We look beyond the headline 108 “Acceptable” ratings and discuss mine-waste stability, liquefaction, earthquakes, groundwater, filtered tailings, closure, financial guarantees and the work Golder says should be addressed at later stages of design. Ultimately, who receives the benefits  and who is left carrying the risk? Link to the Report : https://dontmineus.com/resources/ It may take a day or two for the report to be available  Listen, share the podcast and help more people understand the evidence being considered at the Curraghinalt Public Inquiry. if you value thoughtful, commentary on the Inquiry, please consider following the podcast, sharing this episode, and joining our campaign mailing list to stay connected. https://dontmineus.com/newsletter/   SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins      

Today's Curraghinalt Public Inquiry turned to restoration and visual impact — what the proposed dry-stack mine-waste facility might eventually look like and whether the landscape shown in the visualisations can actually be delivered. Questions about grass and heather soon led to soil and peat storage, missing elements from the visualisations, the sequencing of the mine-waste cells and how closely restoration is tied to the engineering of the site. And when Dalradian's counsel raised concerns about getting a fair opportunity to respond, Niall had been keeping count... 🎧 Listen to today's update from inside the Inquiry, and please share it with anyone following Curraghinalt and the future of the Sperrins. As always, this podcast is intended to help people understand what happened at the Inquiry by bringing together the week's evidence in plain English. If you find these updates useful, please consider joining the Sperrins community  campaign newsletter. https://dontmineus.com/newsletter/ SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins

The mine-waste evidence topic  reaches its final day at the Curraghinalt Public Inquiry, but big questions remain. From extreme rainfall and ageing drainage systems to liners, emergency planning and what happens long after the mine closes, today's evidence eventually led to a crucial question: Should this mine-waste facility actually be Category A? And when DfI was asked to point to the evidence supporting its decision that it isn't, things became interesting. Listen, share the podcast and help more people understand what is actually being said inside this Inquiry room. As always, this podcast is intended to help people understand what happened at the Inquiry by bringing together the week's evidence in plain English. If you find these updates useful, please consider joining the Sperrins community  campaign newsletter. https://dontmineus.com/newsletter/ SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins  

Yesterday at the Curraghinalt Public Inquiry, the spotlight fell unexpectedly on one of Save Our Sperrins’ own expert witnesses when his previous work for Dalradian was raised before the Commission. In this short podcast I look at what happened, how openly it was acknowledged when raised, and the much wider question it left me thinking about: what does duty of candour actually require in an Inquiry involving so many experts, consultants and historic professional connections? But once you start looking at previous professional relationships, where does that spotlight lead next? 🎧 Listen to the podcast, share it with someone following the Curraghinalt Public Inquiry, and keep asking questions. If you value thoughtful, commentary on the Inquiry, please consider following the podcast, sharing this episode, and joining our campaign mailing list to stay connected. https://dontmineus.com/newsletter/ SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins

Dr Steven Emerman returns to the podcast to examine the proposed Curraghinalt Mine Waste Facility and the assumptions on which its long-term safety depends. Drawing on his recent investigation of filtered-tailings facilities in Indonesia including work undertaken by an engineering consultancy whom we will refer to as Consultancy A who also designed the proposed Curraghinalt dry-stack facility we discuss what happens when engineering calculations meet conditions on the ground. We explore water, drainage, compaction, foundations, monitoring, failure scenarios and restoration . Link to Steven’s report: https://dontmineus.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/filtered_tailings_in_indonesia.pdf Filtered Tailings in Indonesia The Catastrophic Failure of a DisruptiveTechnology Technical Report: Steven H. Emerman, PhD, Malach Consulting Summary, Analysis, and Recommendations: Ellen Moore, Jan Morrill, Vuyisile Ncube,and Paulina Personius, and Arianto Sangadji On behalf of Earthworks March, 2026 Link to #23 Dr. Emermans earlier podcast  - The Science of Failure: Truth, Risk, and Responsibility   Failure of Filtered Tailings Mine  Waste Facility  https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/repeated-failures-expose-gaps-in-indonesias-nickel-waste-management/ Dry stack facility- undergoing liquefaction:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCfMnlWmEbo   SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins As always, this podcast is intended to help people understand what happened at the Inquiry by bringing together the week's evidence in plain English. If you find these updates useful, please consider joining the Sperrins community  campaign newsletter. https://dontmineus.com/newsletter/    

What happens when you start pulling at the loose threads? Another extraordinary day at the Curraghinalt Public Inquiry, with the proposed mine waste facility firmly under the microscope. Today brought questions about calculations, ground investigations, boreholes, moisture, failure scenarios, consequence classifications and the guidance being relied upon. Again and again, third parties went back to the documents and asked some very basic questions: Where is the evidence? Has it been tested? And what happens if the assumptions are wrong? There were also a few moments of unintended humour including SRK's memorable insistence that "we use numbers, not rules of thumb." 🎧 Listen, share the podcast and please send it to someone who isn't following the Inquiry. What is happening in that room deserves a much wider public audience. As always, this podcast is intended to help people understand what happened at the Inquiry by bringing together the week's evidence in plain English. If you find these updates useful, please consider joining the Sperrins community  campaign newsletter. https://dontmineus.com/newsletter/ SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins  

High-Grade Gold, Empty Tunnels & Musical Chairs at the Curraghinalt Inquiry The room was packed today as the Public Inquiry returned to mine waste  with Dalradian surrounded by an extraordinary array of counsel, consultants and technical experts. But behind the occasional game of expert musical chairs were some very serious questions. In today's podcast: • Are Dalradian's estimates of gold suitably precautionary  and achievable? • What's the difference between a mineral resource and a mineral reserve? • Has GSNI independently tested Dalradian's estimates? • Why was an Irish seismicity map apparently absent from the mine-waste assessment? • Have tunnels that will remain unfilled underground been properly considered in assessing seismic risk? • And where does GSNI's role as scientific adviser sit alongside its history of promoting Northern Ireland's mineral potential? There were plenty of experts in the room today. Whether all the questions received equally substantial answers is another matter. Listen, share the podcast, and help more people understand what is actually being discussed at the Curraghinalt Public Inquiry. As always, this podcast is intended to help people understand what happened at the Inquiry by bringing together the week's evidence in plain English. If you find these updates useful, please consider joining the Sperrins community  campaign newsletter. https://dontmineus.com/newsletter/ SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins    

As the Public Inquiry prepares to resume, this week I step back from the detail and look at the bigger picture  public trust, transparency, the role of ordinary people and why, after 12 years, we are still here. A moment to reflect before the next term begins. 🎧 Listen, share and help us bring more people into the conversation. The more people who understand what is happening in the Sperrins, the stronger the public voice becomes. As always, this podcast is intended to help people understand what happened at the Inquiry by bringing together the week's evidence in plain English. If you find these updates useful, please consider joining the Sperrins community  campaign newsletter. https://dontmineus.com/newsletter/ SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins #SaveOurSperrins #DontMineUs #Sperrins #PublicInquiry #PublicTrust

This is the second podcast of two, where in the first podcast looked at the  new guidance for the water framework directive and how it might impact the public inquiry . This second podcast speaks from the point of view of the river  We still don't know why the applicant asked for this new guidance to be put before the Public Inquiry, or how they intend to use it when the water evidence begins. So rather than trying to second-guess the argument, maybe  we should learn how to listen for it. And this time I'm letting the river do the talking. 🎧 Listen and share this episode, particularly with anyone living downstream. Because perhaps the question isn't simply who speaks for the river? Rather it might be : Are we prepared to hear what she is telling us? As always, this podcast is intended to help people understand what is happening  at the Inquiry by bringing together the week's evidence in plain English. Read the European Commission guidance discussed in this podcast – C/2026/2836 (official EUR-Lex document). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52026XC02836&utm_source=chatgpt.com   If you find these updates useful, please consider joining the Sperrins community  campaign newsletter. https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/   SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins

The Public Inquiry may be on a break, but just before we left, a newly published European Commission guidance document was admitted into the Inquiry at the request of the applicant. And it is all about water, permitting and mining. With 11 days of evidence on water, water ecology and non-water ecology scheduled for later in the Inquiry, I thought it was worth understanding this document before we get there. In this episode: What the new European Commission guidance actually says  and what it doesn’t. What exactly are mixing zones? What is a water body ? Natural background levels, monitoring and baseline evidence. New provisions around short-term deterioration and relocating existing pollution. And two words we may want to remember when the water evidence begins: “sufficient certainty.” This isn't the easiest subject, but water is far too important to leave entirely to the experts...... 🎧 Listen, share it with someone living downstream  and come back for the next episode, when I’ll look at the river has to say . Read the European Commission guidance discussed in this podcast – C/2026/2836 (official EUR-Lex document). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52026XC02836&utm_source=chatgpt.com   If you find these updates useful, please consider joining the Sperrins community  campaign newsletter. https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/   SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins

 This episode asks who gets to decide what a landscape becomes, explores the idea of darkness as part of our shared inheritance In this episode: The European Commission's new Water Framework Directive guidance and why campaigners are paying attention. Concerns raised about mitigation measures and the absence of key native files. Why today's hearing  was really  about power, place and stewardship although the topic was lighting . The idea of "the commons" and whether darkness belongs to all of us. A reflection on who gets to shape the landscapes we leave to future generations. 🎧 Listen now, and if you value independent reporting from inside the Public Inquiry, please follow, share and leave a review. Every recommendation helps others discover the podcast. If you value thoughtful, commentary on the Inquiry, please consider following the podcast, sharing this episode, and joining our campaign mailing list to stay connected. https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/

After almost a month's break, the Public Inquiry returns and so do the daily podcasts. At first glance, today's hearing was about lighting and dark skies. But as the day unfolded, it became clear that this wasn't really about lighting at all. It was about what darkness means. In this episode: Why three days have been devoted to lighting at the Inquiry. The hidden value of dark skies. Why darkness matters for wildlife and human health. The importance of silence, stars and rural identity. A reflection on what we choose to value in an increasingly uncertain world. 🎧 Listen now and, if it resonates with you, please share the podcast with someone who loves the Sperrins and believes some things are simply beyond price.

As the Public Inquiry takes a short summer break, so too does the podcast. I'll be back when the Inquiry resumes on 4th, 5th and 6th August, but before then I'd like to leave you this . In this special episode, I share a poem I wrote several years ago my own original reinterpretation, inspired by the style of The Vagina Monologues. It is a lament for the land, imagining the Earth as a living body and reflecting on what it feels like to witness a cherished landscape opened, wounded and changed. The accompanying artwork is a striking linocut of a Sheela na Gig by Valerie Whitworth. These ancient stone carvings, found across Ireland, are widely regarded as symbols of the sacred feminine, fertility, protection and the life-giving power of the Earth. They provide a fitting companion to a poem about our relationship with the earth and our responsibility to protect it. Thank you for listening, for caring, and for walking this journey with me. I'll see you again in August. If you value thoughtful, commentary on the Inquiry, please consider following the podcast, sharing this episode, and joining our campaign mailing list to stay connected. https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins  

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is look in the mirror. In this episode, I take a step back from the Public Inquiry to reflect on my own words and actions following recent events. It's an honest conversation about the difference between reacting and responding, the responsibilities that come with public commentary, and why holding ourselves to the same standards we expect of others matters. In this episode: Why I felt it was important to reflect publicly. The difference between passion and judgement. Why I've apologised to the Commissioners. The changes I've made to two recent podcast episodes. Why the campaign's values of dignity, respect and fairness remain unchanged. This podcast has always been about asking difficult questions with honesty and integrity. Sometimes that means asking them of ourselves as well. If you're new to the podcast, I'd encourage you to begin with Podcast 41, where the story of the Curraghinalt Public Inquiry and the Save Our Sperrins campaign really begins. https://buttonsoptions4u.podbean.com/e/no41-public-inquiry-begins-what-happens-next/ If you value thoughtful, commentary on the Inquiry, please consider following the podcast, sharing this episode, and joining our campaign mailing list to stay connected. https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ As always, this podcast is intended to help people understand what happened at the Inquiry by bringing together the week's evidence in plain English. SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins

This week's proceedings ranged from blasting and explosives to radon, arsenic, lead, public health and childhood development. But beneath the technical evidence, a much bigger question continued to emerge: who carries the risk, and who is ultimately accountable? In this episode we cover: 💥 New evidence on blasting and explosives 🏠 The experiences of residents living through previous blasting ⚠️ Concerns over conditions, enforcement and long-term accountability ☢️ Evidence on radon, arsenic, lead and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) 🧒 Medical evidence on air pollution, child development and public health 🌿 The debate over tellurium and critical minerals 🎙️ Reflections on transparency, public participation and the Inquiry process As always, this podcast is intended to help people understand what happened at the Inquiry by bringing together the week's evidence in plain English. If you find these updates useful, please consider joining the Sperrins community  campaign newsletter. https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ You'll receive important updates, events and ways to get involved as the Inquiry continues. Please subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review it really helps others find the podcast.  SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins

In Part 2 of Wednesday's Public Inquiry, the focus shifts from planning policy to public health. Retired GP Dr Alan Evans and consultant surgeon Dr Michael Mullan gave evidence on radon, arsenic, lead and tellurium, raising questions about the potential health implications of mining and why these issues matter to communities living in the Sperrins. This episode also explores why local concerns should not be dismissed as fear, but understood in the wider context of mining communities across the world. In this episode: The evidence on radon and why it matters. Concerns surrounding arsenic, lead and tellurium. Why tellurium became a point of debate at the Inquiry. The difference between geological timescales and human timescales. Why the experiences of mining communities worldwide deserve to be heard. 🎧 If you value independent reporting from inside the Public Inquiry, please subscribe, share this episode and help others stay informed. Every share makes a difference.

Public Inquiry – Final Day Before Summer Recess Today's hearing focused on some of the most important public health issues considered at the Inquiry so far. In this episode I look at the evidence presented on air pollution, radiation, electromagnetic fields and the potential health implications of the proposed mine. I also explain some of the technical terms that seem to have become part of the Inquiry's own language. In this episode: Blasting, Radon, NORM and what they actually mean.  ICNIRP  today's acronym of the day. Expert medical evidence on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and environmental exposures. Public health concerns raised during the hearing. The summer recess. If you're following the Dalradian Public Inquiry, this episode provides a clear, accessible summary of the day's proceedings. 🎧 Listen, subscribe and share to help more people understand what's happening at the Public Inquiry. SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins Join our newsletter https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/

When the public inquiry  starts to obscure the bigger picture, sometimes it's worth stopping to remember what we're actually trying to protect. This week's podcast steps back from the technical evidence of the Public Inquiry to reflect on why so many people have devoted years of their lives to this process. Alongside that, I examine another week inside the Inquiry, where procedural decisions, witness management and an increasingly tense atmosphere continue to raise difficult questions. In this episode: Why I decided to read excerpts from The Sperrins Declaration The importance of remembering what this Inquiry is really about The latest developments inside the Public Inquiry Questions surrounding witness examination and procedural fairness Growing frustrations among community participants Why many believe the process is becoming increasingly tightly controlled 🎧 Listen now and, if you enjoy the podcast, please follow, subscribe and share it. Every share helps more people understand what's happening inside the Public Inquiry.

Today's Public Inquiry was about blasting, but it began with something entirely different. Warnings about the podcast itself, questions about freedom of expression, and another confirmation that Cormac remains excluded from the Inquiry. As the evidence unfolded, new information continued to emerge orally rather than through the Environmental Statement, raising further concerns for Third Parties trying to scrutinise the application. In this episode I discuss: The warning issued about the podcast and why I refuse to be silenced. Cormac's continued exclusion from the Public Inquiry. Dalradian's revised blasting proposals – now 16 blasts every day. Concerns that crucial technical information is still being presented orally rather than in the application documents. Questions over vibration modelling, trial blasting and missing environmental information. Powerful evidence from local residents describing their previous experience of blasting. The revelation that approximately 42,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate could be used over the life of the mine. Why today's evidence leaves more questions than answers. 🎙️ If this episode gives you something to think about, I'd love to hear your views. Please leave a comment, share the episode, and help others follow what is happening at the Public Inquiry.

This episode takes a step away from the Public Inquiry and into the heart of the Sperrins for the 21st annual Gathering at Silverbrook Mill, Donemana. Set in one of Ireland's most unique historic mill complexes, The Gathering brings together people, communities and campaigns from across Northern Ireland and beyond. It is a day of conversation, learning, music, connection and shared experience. In this episode: • The story of Silverbrook Mill and its remarkable heritage • What The Gathering is and why it has endured  • The importance of connection in  community and environmental campaigns • The challenges of isolation faced by  campaign groups • Reflections on community, resilience and shared values • A conversation with fellow co-organisers Mary McGuiggan and Anna Louise Bresnahan  about this year's Gathering If you enjoy these conversations exploring community, heritage and the future of the Sperrins, please subscribe, share the podcast and help others discover the stories that often go unheard.

This week at the Public Inquiry, noise may have been the official topic, but questions of fairness, participation and whose voices are heard often dominated proceedings. In this episode I discuss: • A further 33 days being added to the Inquiry timetable. • The internet outage that left third parties unable to access key documents while others remained connected. • Whether a process can be fair when participants are operating on unequal terms. • The continuing debate around noise impacts and mining assessments. • The value of lived experience versus so-called professional expertise. • How ordinary members of the public continue to identify weaknesses in complex technical evidence. • Mary Brolly's application seeking the readmission of campaigner Cormac McAleer. • The Commissioners' decision to reserve their ruling until the Inquiry resumes. If you have found value in this podcast,  please subscribe, share , write a review  and help others stay informed about what is happening inside the Public Inquiry room. SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/  

Today the Public Inquiry returned to noise, rebuttals, conditions, and a guest  appearance from  a member of the  "Silent Majority." In this episode: Third parties challenge inaccuracies in the applicant's evidence Noise evidence and rebuttals continue A masterclass in staying on message regardless of the question Why every impact seems to be described as "negligible" The case for the readmission of long-time campaigner Cormac McAleer The Commissioners' decision  If the evidence is to be believed, this may be the first mine in history that generates traffic, blasting, waste rock, industrial processing and power infrastructure while affecting virtually nothing at all. 🎙️ If you're finding these daily updates useful, please follow the podcast on Spotify and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Every share helps more people follow what is happening at the Public Inquiry. Thank you .  Link to podcast 71 - https://buttonsoptions4u.podbean.com/e/71%f0%9f%8e%99%ef%b8%8f-public-inquiry-week-beginning-2nd-june-2026-day-1/   SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/  

This week at the Public Inquiry, the discussion appeared to be about roads, heritage and planning policy. But beneath the technical evidence, a much bigger question emerged. What happens when a system designed to assess categories is asked to understand memory, faith, community and belonging? In this episode, I reflect on why many people feel the outcome is already predetermined, why communities often prevail not by convincing those in power but by convincing each other, and why the real legacy of the Inquiry may be the strengthening of the community itself. Key topics: • The growing perception that the outcome has already been decided • The evidence presented on the importance of the Mass Rock and cultural heritage • Why community, memory and belonging cannot easily be reduced to planning categories • The difference between authority and legitimacy • How communities can respond to hopelessness and negativity • Why staying connected may be the most powerful act of all Call to Action: If you find value in these conversations, please follow the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, leave a review and share this episode with others. Every follow, review and share helps ensure that these stories, and the voices behind them, reach a wider audience.

Day 29 of the Dalradian Public Inquiry brought archaeology, peatlands and heritage into sharp focus, along with some uncomfortable questions about conditions, timetables and public participation. We hear contrasting evidence from Dr Jill Plunkett and HED, discuss the implications of archaeological mitigation, and reflect on the growing frustration among third parties as key topics are quietly set aside and timetable pressures continue to mount. Plus, a heartfelt thank you to the Earth Mamas, whose songs reminded us all why this fight matters.

Today the Public Inquiry heard evidence on historic roads, religious heritage, intangible cultural heritage and the deep connections between people, language and landscape. What emerged was a profound question: can everything that matters be measured? In a day that featured testimony from Father Joe McVeigh , Sinéad Ní Mhearnóg, Dr. Peadar Mac Gabhann, Liam Monaghan, Dr. Vicenza Cirifice and others, the discussion moved into the realms of memory, belonging, identity and community. In this episode: Historic roads and access in the Sperrins The cultural and spiritual significance of mass rocks Father Pat McVey on community cohesion and division Irish language, landscape and identity The last Irish-speaking district in Northern Ireland Intangible cultural heritage and what may be lost Community consultation versus desktop studies Can heritage only exist if it can be measured? Reflections inspired by a four-year-old's drawing 🎧 Listen, share and subscribe. If these conversations matter, please help us reach more people by following the podcast, leaving a review and sharing this episode with others interested in heritage, democracy, culture and the future of the Sperrins.   The drawings mentioned in the podcast can be viewed on our Facebook page here - https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurSperrins SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/        

Today I take a closer look at one of the most fascinating aspects of the Public Inquiry – not the evidence itself, but how that evidence is presented. When does advocacy become narrative building? How are facts framed, emphasised, minimised or reinterpreted? And what should third parties be listening out for as the Inquiry continues? In this episode: How barristers shape narratives without necessarily disputing facts The difference between facts and interpretations of facts Why omitted context can be as important as what is said The debate around cultural and intangible heritage Community consultation – what happened and what didn't The role of commissioners in cutting through competing narratives Support from government departments and local councils for third-party concerns Call to Action If you're finding these daily Public Inquiry updates useful: Follow the podcast on Spotify Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Share the podcast with friends and family Help bring these conversations to a wider audience #PublicInquiry #SaveOurSperrins #Dalradian #CulturalHeritage #PlanningInquiry #EnvironmentalJustice

The Mass Rock, Memory and Corporate Colonialism What is it that makes a place sacred? In this episode I reflect on childhood memories of an ancient ráth in County Kildare and the deep sense of mystery, belonging and connection it inspired. Those memories lead me to the Crockanboy Mass Rock in the Sperrins and a wider question about heritage, community and who gets to decide what places matter. In this episode: The childhood ráth that shaped my understanding of place and belonging Why sacred places matter beyond their physical form The history and significance of the Crockanboy Mass Rock The parallels between British colonialism and modern corporate control of land Heritage, memory and community stewardship Why access to cultural and spiritual sites matters Can a heritage site survive if the connection between people and place is broken? The Mass Rock survived because generations of people remembered, gathered, walked the old paths and kept its stories alive. The question is whether that living connection can survive today. SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ #MassRock #Crockanboy #Sperrins #IrishHistory #Heritage #CommunityRights

This week I reflect on the growing questions around trust, public accountability and whether public infrastructure is being altered to serve the public interest or private commercial interests. In this episode: • The proposed abandonment of a public road • Public interest versus commercial interest • Road safety and risk • The role of DfI Roads • Communities becoming "receptors" • Confidence in public institutions • Trust, transparency and accountability • Why this inquiry increasingly feels like a debate about democracy itself A look back at the week's hearings and the questions that continue to hang over the process. SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins Keep up to date with the campaign  https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/

The afternoon session moved into the world of planning conditions, trigger points and whether the safeguards attached to major developments are actually capable of protecting communities and public infrastructure. In this episode: • What planning conditions are and why they matter • The six tests that planning conditions are supposed to satisfy • Debate over trigger points and when development should be allowed to commence • Concerns around the abandonment of the existing road network • Questions about what happens if the proposed replacement road fails safety requirements • Discussion around road adoption and the prospect of private roads • The continuing tension between development objectives and public safety • What today's evidence may reveal about the practical reality of enforcing planning conditions A closer look at the detail behind the headlines and what it could mean for local communities, infrastructure and accountability within the planning system.   SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins Link to the morning part of this podcast . #PublicInquiry #PlanningSystem #DemocracyMatters #SaveOurSperrins  

Today’s inquiry heard explosive concerns over the proposed abandonment of the old road and its replacement with what many believe is effectively a mining haul road in disguise — a Via Pretensa. From traffic chaos and explosives transport, to access to the historic Mass Rock, human rights, road safety, and accusations that local communities are being turned into a “sacrifice zone”, emotions boiled over inside the hearing room. This episode covers: The reality behind the proposed “replacement” road Safety concerns over mine traffic and explosives transport Access issues surrounding the historic Mass Rock Claims of inadequate road design and safety standards Human rights concerns around access, religion, and rural life Heated exchanges between objectors, consultants, and commissioners

Today at the PAC Inquiry the focus returned once again to the controversial road abandonment and replacement road proposals linked to the Dalradian gold mine application. Questions around process, fairness, engineering standards and public participation continued to grow as third parties challenged both the procedure and the proposed road design itself. In this episode: DfI Roads arrives in force at the Inquiry Ongoing confusion around the “conjoined inquiry” process Questions over whether inquiry rules are being selectively applied Calls for an adjournment after the exclusion of roads expert Doug Hill Debate over tourism impacts and recreational use of the existing road Claims the replacement road design falls below acceptable engineering standards Boy racers, haul roads and “mating circles” Concerns over safety, gradients, fencing and toxic waste infrastructure Why campaigners believe this is not a simple replacement road A daily account from inside the Planning Appeals Commission Inquiry into the proposed Dalradian gold mine in the Sperrins.   SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins Sign up to our newsletter  https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/

Public Inquiry Review of the Week Growing concerns over procedural fairness and democratic accountability Retired engineer Douglas Hill challenges the Roads Abandonment process Local communities defend vital rural infrastructure and public safety DfI neutrality questioned as confidence in the process continues to erode Timetable chaos, cancelled hearings and mounting pressure on campaigners Reflections on environmental justice, public trust and community resistance The latest from the Save Our Sperrins campaign and the Dalradian inquiry New podcast episode available now https://www.dontmineus.com  SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/   #SaveOurSperrins #PublicInquiry #EnvironmentalJustice #NorthernIreland #Dalradian #CommunityVoices #Democracy #PlanningProcess #Podcast #Sperrins

In this episode, I unpack the latest developments at the Dalradian public inquiry, including delays, adjournments, and the withdrawal of the judicial review surrounding the landscape hearings. I also reflect on a powerful discussion with Indigenous climate activist Ariel Deranger and the striking parallels between Indigenous environmental struggles and what communities here in the Sperrins are experiencing today. Topics covered include: • Dalradian public inquiry updates • Judicial review withdrawn • Landscape hearings postponed • Roads inquiry continues • Indigenous climate justice • Rural communities and environmental activism • Planning systems and democracy • Save Our Sperrins campaign • Community rights and environmental protection • The human impact of industrial development This episode explores why communities are increasingly feeling unheard, and why protecting landscape, water, identity, and democracy matters more than ever. Links from this podcast  Https://www.thewovenproject.org [email protected]  SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/  

• Extraordinary scenes from the Roads Inquiry into the proposed abandonment of the U1244 road • Retired senior roads engineer Doug Hill challenges the integrity and compliance of the process • Concerns raised around road safety, visibility, drainage, heavy traffic and emergency access • Questions over democratic accountability, procedural fairness and public confidence • Discussion around the erosion of standards, compliance and duty of candour within public institutions • The growing influence of big business, lobbying and political pressure in Northern Ireland • Why Doug Hill’s intervention became the defining moment of the day • Plus: applications officially open for the completely fictional role of DfI / PAC whistleblower An example of some of Doug's accreditations relevant to the roads inquiry  Accrediated Lead Assessor with HIS (British Standards Institute) For BS 5750 series I SO 9001 & iSO 14001. Quality Management System & Environmental Management System. International Standard Organisation. As a consultant I mentored organisations implementing these standards. I also carried out external audits on companies for BSI. Actually I have carried out a number of audits for Roads Service headquarters in the one plus million West Link DBFO package 1 project. I was the DNSR. Department Nominee Site Representive. I carrying out many internal Audits for Roads Service A4 dialling 118 million project. I was a consultant to roads service and acted as Project Manger. We developed this Scheme and presented to the 2 week Roads Service Public Inquiry. We were hugely successful and the Independent Inspector except our proposal in in entirety and only made two minor recommendations. Roads Service Divisional Roads Manger Mr Pat Doherty described us as his dream team and he thanked me and complimented me frequently by word and by letter. Another relevant professional training was a 3 or 4 day residential Public Inquiry training course in Dublin which I completed with credits. SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrinsing Sign up to the newsletter here    #Sperrins #PublicInquiry #RoadSafety #PlanningAppealsCommission #DFI #NorthernIreland #Democracy #Goldmine #Community #Infrastructure    

Senior roads engineers challenge the handling of the Dalradian road proposals Questions raised over safety, baseline surveys and the use of Section 76 Communities reduced to “receptors” in the language of the Inquiry Witnesses speak openly about feeling dismissed and disrespected Fresh criticism of DfI Roads and the constantly shifting process Concerns over haul roads, school safety, traffic volumes and consultation failures Campaigners accuse the PAC of facilitating strategy rather than scrutinising evidence Another extraordinary day inside the Public Inquiry https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/  

Roads, Questions & Wearing People Down • Another long day inside the Dalradian Public Inquiry • Roads, traffic surveys and Article 11 discussions dominate proceedings • Concerns raised over outdated baseline traffic data from 2015 • Third parties forced to answer before hearing applicant responses • Growing frustration around fairness, process and “equality of arms” • Douglas Hill challenges DfI Roads evidence and lack of updated modelling • Local residents speak about safety, noise, HGVs and rural roads • Questions raised around enforcement, planning conditions and long-term accountability • Section 76 agreements discussed  but who carries the risk when the gold is gone? • Reflections from another exhausting day inside the inquiry room https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/

🎙️ Review of the Week — Public Inquiry Podcast This week at the Public Inquiry: • closure bond and long term liability discussions • farming, tourism and environmental concerns • testimony from communities impacted by mining around the world • growing frustration around planning policy and departmental neutrality • ongoing timetable chaos and procedural fairness concerns • the emotional toll this process is taking on local people Another exhausting week in the Sperrins as the inquiry process continues to go round and round. Link to the podcast by Pat and Nuala Gheoghegan - https://buttonsoptions4u.podbean.com/e/no33-pat-and-nuala-living-living-5-miles-from-europe-s-largest-aluminium-plant/ Sign up to our newsletter here  https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ #Sperrins #PublicInquiry #EnvironmentalJustice #Mining #ProtectTheSperrins #Podcast #Community #Tourism #Farming #NorthernIreland

PODCAST DESCRIPTION • Chaos and confusion at the Dalradian Gold Mine Public Inquiry • Emergency timetable changes leave legal teams and expert witnesses scrambling • Serious questions raised about the handling of the inquiry by the PAC • Debate erupts over whether Dalradian’s “Dry Stack Facility” is actually a mine waste tailings facility • Department counsel Mr Elvin rejects WM01 waste policy designation during heated exchanges • Concerns raised about neutrality, fairness and equality of arms within the process • Third parties express frustration at the growing disorder and wasted public money • Save Our Sperrins, FODC and legal representatives react to dramatic changes announced by the Commission • A day marked by disbelief, anger and growing concern over the integrity of the process Sign up to our newsletter here  https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ #Dalradian #SaveOurSperrins #PublicInquiry #GoldMine #Sperrins #EnvironmentalJustice #NorthernIreland #Mining #PlanningProcess #CommunityRights

Inside today’s Public Inquiry hearing: From missing feasibility studies to disputes over “material considerations,” today’s session exposed deep tensions around the proposed Dalradian goldmine in the Sperrins. Expert witnesses face ongoing timetable chaos, tourism voices warn of irreversible damage, and campaigners question whether planning conditions can ever truly protect communities. In this episode: Expert witness attendance disrupted by constant schedule changes Debate over Commonwealth mining feasibility guidelines (CFSG) What “material consideration” actually means in planning law Questions over the absence of a feasibility study Concerns about missing social impact assessments Tourism and heritage fears raised by local speakers Angling, jobs, and the economic value of the Foyle river system Community voices challenge the long-term impacts of mining Discussion on whether planning conditions are enforceable in reality #PublicInquiry #Sperrins #Dalradian #Goldmine #PlanningInquiry #NorthernIreland #Tourism #Environment #Mining #CommunityVoices #Podcast Sign up to our newsletter here  https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ https://dontmineus.com/the-sperrins-podcast/

#57 | Public Inquiry – Day 1 | Week Beginning 12 May 2026 • Public Inquiry timetable chaos and growing frustration among third parties • Commonwealth Mining Feasibility Study Guidelines introduced into proceedings • Questions over transparency, evidence standards and public confidence • Section 76 agreements, financial bonds and perpetual mine waste liability • Debate around the “Dry Stack Facility” tailings dump • Agriculture, farming, food safety and environmental concerns raised • Mental health impacts and community testimony heard at the Inquiry • Voices from campaigners, experts, farmers and affected residents Truth spoken to power from the heart of the Sperrins. ✊   https://buttonsoptions4u.podbean.com/e/no40-voice-value-and-who-gets-heard-a-conversation-with-dermot-devlin/ https://buttonsoptions4u.podbean.com/e/no33-pat-and-nuala-living-living-5-miles-from-europe-s-largest-aluminium-plant/ Sign up to our newsletter here  https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ #Public Inquiry #Sperrins #Stop The Mine #Environmental Justice #Ireland News

🎙️ Conversations beyond the headlines. • Campaigns, communities & environmental justice • Politics, planning & truth spoken to power • Long-form discussions with campaigners, experts & guests • Real stories from the frontlines of the fight to protect the Sperrins Top 25% global podcast | 10,000+ downloads ✊ https://dontmineus.com/the-sperrins-podcast/ Sign up to our newsletter here  https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/

This week the inquiry moved deep into the economics, financial structures and long-term liabilities behind the Dalradian gold mine proposal. In this episode: • Missing feasibility studies and inaccessible economic models • Questions around Wheaton, royalties, offshore structures and profit flows • Claims about jobs, wages and local economic benefit challenged • DfI accused of failing to carry out proper due diligence • Gold laundering concerns raised at the inquiry • 44,000 tonnes of explosives discussed • Unanswered questions around policing costs and public liability • Mine closure, acid mine drainage and who pays decades later If you missed the daily episodes, this is the full end-of-week breakdown bringing together the major themes, moments and unanswered questions from the inquiry so far. https://dontmineus.com/public-inquiry-2/ #PACInquiry #SaveOurSperrins #Dalradian #GoldMine #NorthernIreland #EnvironmentalJustice #PlanningInquiry #Mining #Podcast

Another extraordinary day at the public inquiry. Today’s episode covered some huge issues surrounding the proposed gold mine  from gold laundering risks and due diligence to explosives, policing costs and mine closure liabilities. Topics covered: Gold concentrate royalties and traceability The Galantas whistleblower case Shell companies and corporate structures NCA and OECD warnings on gold laundering DfI’s response on due diligence 44,000 tonnes of explosives Policing costs and national security concerns Extensive blasting proposals Mine closure bonds and restoration costs https://www.dontmineus.com  Sign up to our newsletter here  https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/

Conflict of interest raised involving DFI counsel and Landmark Chambers What Landmark Chambers actually are — and why that matters Inside the £75 million deal between Dalradian and Wheaton How Dalradian may now effectively be a shell company The reality of gold being sold at just 18% of market value Missing details: where is the gold actually being processed? Unanswered questions around £620,000 bulk sample money Multiple royalty agreements — who is really getting paid? Public money breakdown: grants, police costs, environmental funding No forensic accountant used — despite complexity of proposal Employment promises described as vague and unenforceable “Creative accounting” concerns raised by economic expert Powerful human moments from those directly affected Growing frustration from local people attending daily Big question raised: future tax implications & Irish unification Link to the website - https://dontmineus.com/ Sign up to our newsletter here  https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ #Public Inquiry #Sperrins #Stop The Mine #Environmental Justice #Ireland News

What are you supposed to do when you’re asked to trust a process… but deep down you believe that process is fundamentally flawed? This episode comes straight from Day 4 of the Socio-Economic section of the Public Inquiry into the proposed gold mine in the Sperrins. I left the Inquiry tired, frustrated, and questioning everything—then went for a walk on the mountain, one of the very places under threat. That walk brought me back to why I’m doing this at all. This is part reflection, part reality check, and part record of what’s actually happening inside that room. In this episode: Why we believe many of the 127 questions simply can’t be answered properly The ongoing issue of missing data and basic information What we mean by the “Phantom Feasibility Study” The continued use of reports already described as “obsolete” and “no longer valid” The sense that what’s unfolding feels more like performance than process The cost financial and otherwise of dragging this out What it feels like to sit through it as a member of the public The moment on the mountain that brought me back to my “why” Thinking ahead 20 years and who we’ll have to answer to Sign up to our newsletter here  https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/

A step back as hearings pause and the Inquiry prepares to resume Where things stand: slow progress and key questions still unanswered Ongoing concerns around the economic case, missing information, and environmental gaps What to watch as proceedings get back underway A reflection on the past week and the strength of community support Why family, presence, and shared values continue to carry this campaign 👉 Listen now and stay informed as the Inquiry continues Sign up to our newsletter here  https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/   #Public Inquiry #Sperrins #Stop The Mine #Environmental Justice #Ireland News

🔍 Key Issues This Week: ❗ No current feasibility study underpinning the project 📊 Economic case based on unseen data and a “spreadsheet” not available to the public 💰 Gold valuation claims not adding up — major gaps between industry norms and projections 🏛️ Department for Infrastructure under pressure over process, preparedness, and oversight ⚖️ Public inquiry fairness questioned — limited time, delayed topics, restricted participation 📉 Only 23 of 155 questions answered — progress slower than expected 🧾 Missing and incomplete documentation across environmental and economic areas 🌍 Unclear environmental impact — gaps in carbon data, waste planning, and long-term risk 🔄 Confusion over what’s actually being mined — gold vs multiple minerals 💼 Local economic benefit unclear — profits expected to leave the region 🚨 What This Means: A process that appears under strain Key decisions being discussed without full information Growing concerns around transparency, accountability, and public trust Sign up to our newsletter here  https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ #Public Inquiry #Sperrins #Stop The Mine #Environmental Justice #Ireland News

Shakespeare meets the Public Inquiry “All the world’s a stage”… and today, the barristers played their part Timetable chaos as the inquiry struggles to keep pace New information admitted—without time to review or respond Economic model under scrutiny: based on unseen data Gold… or gold concentrate? The numbers start to unravel Growing concerns over fairness, transparency, and process Third parties “limping along like a wounded animal” Questions raised about oral submissions with no paper trail A day that veered from serious to surreal 👉 Follow the podcast for daily updates from inside the inquiry 👉 Share to keep the spotlight on what’s really happening Sign up to our newsletter here  https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ #Public Inquiry #Sperrins #Stop The Mine #Environmental Justice #Ireland News

Focus on economic modelling behind the Dalradian application Serious questions raised about overly optimistic projections Concerns around lack of real-world grounding and evidence Independent expert Mr Burgess (FODC) casts doubt on financial claims Key issue: Who actually benefits from the profits? Gold value driving projections — but wealth largely leaves the local area Community impact questioned: jobs, local economy, real benefit? Strong intervention from Sean Clarke (Mid Ulster Council) Concerns about job displacement and pressure on existing businesses Inquiry timeline may be extended significantly Sign up to our newsletter here  https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ 👉 Follow the podcast for daily insights from inside the Public Inquiry 👉 Share to keep awareness growing