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

#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.

#77🎙️ |Public Inquiry week in review 18th June 2026|

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

#76🎙️ |Public Inquiry Week Beginning 16th June 2026 Day 2 |

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

#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.