The Sperrins: Mining, Power & Community in Northern Ireland

#82 🎙️ |Public Inquiry Week Beginning 30th June 2026 Day 3 part 2 |

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.

#81🎙️ |Public Inquiry Week Beginning 29th June 2026 Day 3 |

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 [https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins] Join our newsletter https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/ [https://dontmineus.com/newslatter/]

#80🎙️ |Public Inquiry Week Beginning 29th June 2026 Day 2 |

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.

#79🎙️ |Public Inquiry Week Beginning 29th June 2026 Day 1 |

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.

#78 🎙️ Bonus Podcast - The Gathering 2026

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.