Shows
The Sperrins Podcast#No.28 One Landscape, One Fight: Cross-Border Resistance to Fracking & MiningIn this episode, we sit down with two men who helped shape one of the most remarkable grassroots movements on the island of Ireland: the cross-border resistance to fracking along the Leitrim–Fermanagh border.
Back in 2012, when few understood the scale of the threat, farmers, families and community organisers began to join the dots between their wells, their rivers, their land and the industrial plans unfolding around them. Eddie Mitchell and Michael Gallagher were among those who stepped forward early Eddie through community organising and later political leadership, Michael through the farming networks that became central to th...
2025-12-201h 12
The Sperrins Podcast#No.27 Raised by the Hills – A Conversation with Kelan GrantThis week’s podcast features Kelan Grant, a successful professional mountain biker — and a childhood friend of my own children, with family ties that stretch back over forty-five years.
Kelan has been on bikes almost since he could walk. He grew up in Knockmoyle, at the edge of the Sperrins, and now lives and races professionally out of Morzine in the French Alps. I’ve watched his phenomenal progress over the years, from those first tentative wobbles to the accomplished rider he is today.
He has competed on some of Europe’s toughest enduro trails, and, in h...
2025-12-1354 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No.26 Business, Human Rights and the Battle for Accountability a Conversation with Chris O Connell Trócaire .Chris O’Connell, Trócaire
In this episode of Protecting the Sperrins – Voices from the Frontline, Marella Fyffe speaks with Chris O’Connell, Senior Policy Advisor at Trócaire, about the growing global movement for a UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights.
From decades of work across the Global South, Chris brings a deep understanding of how deregulation benefits corporate power, how trade agreements can quietly undermine democracy and the environment, and why binding rules for business are urgently needed.
Their conversation moves from the global to the local — from Geneva to the Sperrins — exploring ho...
2025-12-071h 05
The Sperrins Podcast#No.25 How Small Food Producers Strengthen a Rural Economy: Dart Mountain CheeseIn this week’s episode, I sit down with Julie from Dart Mountain Cheese, an artisan cheesemaking company rooted deep in the foothills of the Sperrins. What begins as a story about cheese quickly becomes something much bigger: a conversation about place, sustainability, and how to build a meaningful livelihood in a rural landscape often written off as economically limited.
Julie shares how Dart Mountain Cheese began, why the Sperrins were the only place that felt right, and how clean air, clean water and healthy soil are at the heart of everything they produce. We talk about the...
2025-11-291h 03
The Sperrins Podcast#No.24 UK Critical Minerals Strategy 2035: What It Means for Communities and the EnvironmentIn this bonus episode, I dig into the UK’s newly published Critical Minerals Strategy 2035 — a document dressed up as environmental responsibility, yet rooted in the same extractive logic that has driven ecological breakdown for decades. Behind its polished language lies a blueprint for expanded mining, weakened planning protections and a deeper entanglement between government, finance and the arms industry. Communities are reduced to footnotes; ecosystems are treated as expendable; and the climate crisis is used to justify fresh harm.
This episode unpacks what the strategy really means for places like the Sperrins. It exposes the quiet conv...
2025-11-2309 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No.23 Dr Steven H. Emerman – The Science of Failure: Truth, Risk, and ResponsibilityIn this episode, Marella speaks with Dr Steven H. Emerman, hydrologist, geophysicist, and one of the world’s leading independent experts on mine tailings storage facilities.
Dr Emerman brings decades of research and international experience to a conversation that cuts through technical jargon and gets to the heart of what’s at stake in the Dalradian Gold planning application for the Sperrins.
He explains that the standard industry position is that all tailings dams will eventually fail and that every one requires maintenance in perpetuity — creating a permanent burden for future generations. Even more alarming, tailin...
2025-11-221h 21
The Sperrins Podcast#No.22 Mining the Truth: A Conversation with Lynda SullivanLynda Sullivan has spent years working with communities affected by mining, from the Andes to the Sperrins. She speaks about how Ireland became a “green sacrifice zone”, the myth of mining as a climate solution, and what happens when governments trade nature for profit. Her work with CAIM and the Yes to Life, No to Mining network connects local struggles into a wider movement for protection and change.
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2025-11-1551 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No.21 Butterlope Farm – A Different Kind of ProgressIn this episode, we visit Butterlope Farm near Plumbridge, in the heart of the Sperrin Mountains, where Annie and Vincent Mullan have built a life rooted in care — for land, people, and community.
Annie, with her background in environmental education, and Vincent, a lifelong farmer, have created a social farm that shows how upland farming can be both sustainable and deeply human. Their approach offers a living contrast to the industrialisation creeping across the Sperrins — mining, wind farms, and so-called “progress” that too often leave behind scarred land and divided communities.
Through their stories, we explore...
2025-11-0857 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No.20 From the Sperrins to COP 30: Dr Lorna Gold on Caring for CreationIn this episode, Marella speaks with Dr Lorna Gold, Executive Director of the Laudato Si’ Movement — a global network inspired by Pope Francis’s call to care for our common home. From her long experience in climate justice and faith-based environmental work, Lorna brings insight into how moral and spiritual leadership can shape our collective response to the ecological crisis.
As she prepares to travel to COP 30 in Brazil in November 2025 , Lorna reflects on the tensions between the drive for critical minerals and the urgent need to protect communities and ecosystems. Together, we explore how faith, conscience, and co...
2025-11-0143 min
The Sperrins Podcast# No 19. Sacred Sperrins Living Land :A Conversation with Kerry McCoryIn this episode, I speak with Kerry McCrory, who lives in Coneyglen in the heart of the Sperrins. Through her holistic practice, Kerry helps people reconnect with balance, colour, and the deeper rhythms of nature — but over the years, her care for human well-being has become inseparable from her care for the land itself - through her opposition to the gold mine to challenging the spread of industrial wind farms.
Kerry speaks movingly about the sacred relationship between people and place.This is a conversation about the sacred, in its truest sense: the everyday holiness of the hills...
2025-10-2553 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No.18 Frontlines of Justice:James Orr on Power, Place and the Politics of ExtractionIn this conversation, James Orr — Director of Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland — joins us to reflect on decades of environmental work, solidarity, and vision for change.
From his long-standing support for the Save Our Sperrins campaign to his calls for an independent environmental agency and a just settlement for Lough Neagh, James brings a rare combination of grounded experience and deep ecological thinking.
We talk about what it means to move beyond extractivism, how communities can stand together in the face of corporate power, and the urgent need to reimagine how we live with and care for...
2025-10-181h 16
The Sperrins Podcast#No.17Divided by Gold, Rooted in Place: Emma Conway on Family, Land and BelongingIn this conversation, Marella speaks with Emma Conway, founder of Sperrin Soul Forest School — a mother, educator, and member of an extended local family whose differing views on the goldmine mirror the wider divisions playing out across this rural community
While parts of Emma’s family have engaged with Dalradian, others, including Emma herself, have spoken out against the mine.
It’s a story that runs deep — of love and loyalty, of belonging and belief — and of what it means to keep connection alive when the land beneath you becomes contested.
Together, they talk about how...
2025-10-1152 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No.16 Hope is a Luxury, Resistance is Intergenerational – Gerry McGovern Speaks OutWhat happens when the drive for endless growth leaves nothing but waste behind? Gerry McGovern, author of the After the Goldrush podcast , joins me to explore how mining — and the mindset that fuels it — mirrors the same destructive patterns we see in the digital world.
Our conversation looks at what it means for communities like ours in the Sperrins to stand against extraction, and how waste is never an accident but the direct outcome of a system built on taking without giving back. Gerry’s clarity cuts through the spin, reminding us that resistance is both urgent and in...
2025-10-0458 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No. 15 Sinéad Ní Mhearnóg : Language, Community and CourageIn this episode I speak with Sinéad Ní Mhearnóg Uí Ghéibheannaigh, a young mother, poet, and advocate for the Irish language from ConyGlen near Greencastle. Sinéad works with Glór na nGael, supporting communities to keep the language alive, and has long been a passionate voice in the Save Our Sperrins campaign.
We talk about her roots in the Sperrins, the role of language in shaping identity, and how culture and community sustain resilience. Sinéad reflects on her poetry, her hopes for her children, and her fears for what mining could do to the f...
2025-09-2752 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No.14 Law, Land, and Justice: Dr Amy Strecker on the SperrinsIn this episode, I speak with Dr Amy Strecker, Associate Professor at the Sutherland School of Law in UCD and one of the volunteer expert witnesses supporting the Public Inquiry into goldmining in the Sperrins.
Amy brings her expertise in land law, justice, and cultural landscapes, helping us understand how law can both protect and endanger communities and the places they call home. She speaks about the Sperrins in the wider European and global frame, the clash between cultural heritage and extractive industries, and what a fairer vision of land justice could look like.
We...
2025-09-2037 minThe Sperrins Podcast#No.13 Council Stands with the People, Not DalradianThis update brings you inside the Council chamber as Fermanagh and Omagh District Council refused Dalradian’s latest attempts to delay site restoration until 2025. From explosive claims that their works are “miniscule” to councillors openly admitting unfamiliarity with the site, it was a meeting that laid bare the contradictions and the politics around mining in the Sperrins. Tune in to hear what happened, why it matters, and what comes next.
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#dontmineus #SaveOurSperrins #notoxicmining
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2025-09-1805 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No.12 Dancing with the Earth: Mary McGuiggan on Rights of Nature and ConnectionIn this episode, I sit down with Mary McGuiggan — A Derry woman, retired primary school teacher, renowned Irish dancer and dance teacher, activist, mother, grandmother, and Gaelic speaker are just some of her many talents .
Mary has been at the heart of building the Rights of Nature campaign in Northern Ireland and is one of the founders of The Gathering, which brings activists together from across Ireland to share struggles, strengthen connections, and support one another.
We talk about what inspired her to this work, how The Gathering has become a space for solidarity and cre...
2025-09-1343 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No.11 Hard-Earned Wisdom from Navan: A Conversation with Nuala and Mairéad HeaneyWhat is it really like to live beside a mine? In this episode of the Save Our Sperrins Podcast – Voices from the Frontline, we hear from sisters Nuala and Mairéad Heaney of Navan, County Meath. Their family home sits in the shadow of the Randalstown tailings dam — a toxic reservoir that has grown stage by stage since the late 1970s.
For communities across Ireland facing the threat of new prospecting licences and goldmining projects, their story is both warning and wisdom. Nuala, once secretary of Residents Against Tailings Extension (RATE), reflects on years of campaigning and promi...
2025-09-061h 23
The Sperrins Podcast#No.10 From Greencastle to the Council: Emmet McAleer on Speaking Truth to PowerFrom community halls to the council chamber, Emmet McAleer carried the voice of the Sperrins into local government. Here he reflects on that journey.
In 2019, Emmet made history when he was elected to the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council on a single issue: stopping the goldmine. Against the odds, he unseated a sitting SDLP councillor and became a strong, independent voice for Mid Tyrone over the next four years.
In this conversation, Emmet speaks about his roots in a family deeply tied to the campaign, what it was like to challenge party politics as an...
2025-08-3053 min
The Sperrins Podcast# No.9 Drawing the Line: Counter-Mapping the Sperrins with V’cenza CireficeIn this episode I sit down with V’cenza Cirefice — activist, researcher and long-time supporter of Save Our Sperrins. V’cenza has been a constant presence in the campaign, bringing not only her energy on the ground but also her skills in counter-mapping and visual storytelling.
We talk about how these creative tools give power back to communities, helping people to see the land differently, to challenge the official narratives of industry, and to protect what matters most. Alongside this, V’cenza shares her own journey into activism, the lessons learned along the way, and the deep importan...
2025-08-2435 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No.8 At the Doorstep of the Mine: Olivia and Tish on Protecting Greencastle’s FutureIn this episode I talk with Olivia and Tish, two young mums living just a stone’s throw from where the mine and processing plant are planned. Their concerns go far beyond their own families — they speak about the heart of Greencastle itself, where neighbours lean on each other, traditions are carried on, and community is the lifeblood of village life. They share, with warmth and fighting spirit, how the mine threatens not only their children’s health and future, but also the very fabric of this close-knit community. What comes through is their deep love for Greencastle and an uns...
2025-08-1743 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No. 7 Human Rights in the Hills: Mary Lawlor on Defending the DefendersHuman Rights in the Hills: Mary Lawlor on Defending the Defenders
What happens when a rural community stands its ground for ten years—and the world begins to take notice?
In this special anniversary episode, we’re joined by Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, to reflect on the ongoing campaign to protect the Sperrin Mountains from gold mining. Mary shares her insights on the global patterns of repression facing environmental defenders, the right to protest, and why the Sperrins have become a case study in grassroots resistance.
We e...
2025-08-1039 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No.6 This Is Our Land: The Hollywoods on Farming, Family and the Fight for the SperrinsThe Hollywood family have lived and farmed in the Sperrins for generations. But now, their home lies in the shadow of a proposed goldmine. In this moving conversation, they share what it feels like to live with that looming threat—day in, day out. This episode is about place, memory, and the quiet courage it takes to protect what you love.
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#dontmineus #SaveOurSperrins #notoxicmining
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SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)
https://linktr.ee/saveo...
2025-08-0350 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No. 5 Bridging Divides - Nature , Healing and Protecting the Sperrin MountainsIn this thoughtful and quietly powerful conversation, we speak with Dr Louise Taylor — a political researcher, eco-therapist, and member of the Unionist community — about her journey into the heart of the Save Our Sperrins campaign.
With a PhD exploring the relationship between nature and mental health, Louise brings a deeply informed and personal perspective to the importance of protecting places like the Sperrins — not just for environmental reasons, but for our collective wellbeing. She speaks about her love of the land, the healing power of the more-than-human world, and what it means to stand up for something that tr...
2025-07-2748 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No. 4 Ten Years On: Reflections from the Heart of the SperrinsAbout this episode:
This solo podcast marks a major milestone: ten years since a group of ordinary people in the Sperrin Mountains in Northern Ireland said no to a proposed goldmine — and yes to something much more powerful: community, care, and commitment to place.
In this heartfelt reflection, Marella Fyffe , a member of Save Our Sperrins team , traces the arc of the campaign. This isn’t just a recap — it’s a living memory of what resistance looks like from the inside. It honours both the highlights and the heartbreaks:
🔆 Highlights include:
Early public...
2025-07-1910 min
The Sperrins Podcast# No. 3 Ten Years On: Fidelma, Cormac, and the Power of CommunityIn this episode, we hear from two key voices in the Save Our Sperrins campaign — Fidelma O’Kane and Cormac McAleer. While many played a part in founding SOS, Fidelma and Cormac have remained a steady presence throughout. Ten years on, they reflect on what sparked the movement, how the community has held strong, and why the campaign to protect the Sperrins continues.
This is a conversation about community strength, staying the course, and the quiet determination of people who refuse to back down.
It’s also a reminder that the global extractivism of the past must be...
2025-07-1048 min
The Sperrins Podcast#No. 2 Save Our Sperrins Podcast Special: What Happened at the Public Inquiry January 2025In this special episode of the Sperrins Podcast, we take you inside the short-lived but revealing Public Inquiry into the Dalradian goldmine proposal. From the opening day’s dysfunction to its sudden collapse just three days later, this episode tells the full story of what happened—and why it matters.
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SAVE OUR SPERRINS ( Social Media)
https://linktr.ee/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...
2025-07-0808 minThe Sperrins Podcast#No.1 Introduction to Save Our Sperrins PodcastIn our debut episode, we explore the breathtaking beauty and profound significance of the Sperrin Mountains. Discover why this unique landscape, rich in history, biodiversity, and cultural heritage, is worth protecting. We delve into the threats posed by gold mining and why this campaign is about more than just a place—it’s about safeguarding our environment, community, and future. Join us to learn, reflect, and take action for the Sperrins.
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Save Our Sperrins - SOCIAL MEDIA
https://linktr.ee/saveoursperrins
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2025-01-1105 min