The Sperrins: Mining, Power & Community in Northern Ireland

#74🎙️ |Public Inquiry Review of the week 2nd June 2026 |

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.

#73🎙️ |Public Inquiry Week Beginning 2nd June 2026 Day 3 |

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.

#72🎙️ |Public Inquiry Week Beginning 2 June 2026 Day 2 |

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 [https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurSperrins] SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)  https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins [https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins] https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/

#71🎙️ |Public Inquiry Week Beginning 2nd June 2026 Day 1 |

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

#70🎙️ Public Inquiry The Mass Rock - Bonus Episode

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://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins] https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ #MassRock #Crockanboy #Sperrins #IrishHistory #Heritage #CommunityRights