Public Inquiry Resumes into Proposed Gold Mine in County Tyrone

The public inquiry into plans for a gold mine near Greencastle in County Tyrone resumed on Monday at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh. The Save Our Sperrins group, formed in 2015 to oppose the proposal, attended the session. The group stated that approval of the mine would risk public health and the environment.

Dalradian, the company proposing the mine, plans to extract approximately 100 tonnes of gold, 50 tonnes of silver, and 15,000 tonnes of copper from the site. The company stated that its proposals would build an environmentally responsible project. It also said the project would create and support up to 1,000 jobs and add £5 billion to the Northern Ireland economy.

Background of the Proposal The application for the mine was submitted in 2017 and amended in 2019 to remove the use of cyanide.

The former Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon requested the planning inquiry in 2021. The inquiry has been suspended twice, in 2024 and 2025. The most recent suspension occurred after two-and-a-half days in January 2025, when it emerged that the Department for Infrastructure had failed to notify the Irish government and Donegal County Council about the application, breaching its own regulations.

On Monday, no representatives from Irish state bodies attended the inquiry, though Commissioner Jackie McParland stated that all state bodies had been invited to participate.

Concerns and Statements from Campaigners Fidelma O'Kane, treasurer of the Save Our Sperrins group, said the group has campaigned for 10 years against the proposal.

She expressed concerns about water, air, land, and health. O'Kane added that the focus is on protecting the area for future generations rather than profits for businesses. > "We've been doing it for 10 years, so eight weeks [of the inquiry] is nothing now.

“— Fidelma O'Kane, treasurer of Save Our Sperrins Marella Fyffe, chairperson of the group, described the campaign as a stand for community, culture, and what matters to residents. The inquiry is expected to sit for at least 21 days over the next eight to 10 weeks. It will consider issues including cultural and heritage impacts, waste management, landscape, climate, transport, and socio-economic aspects. The site is located in the Sperrins area, which residents describe as integral to their lives. The inquiry's complexity and scale have been noted as significant. Outcomes could affect local communities, the environment, and economic development in the region.”