The Sperrins Podcast
Welcome to the Save Our Sperrins Podcast, where we explore the beauty, significance, and urgent challenges facing the Sperrin Mountains in Northern Ireland . This podcast dives into the heart of the campaign to protect this stunning landscape from the threat of gold mining, offering insights, stories, and expert perspectives on why the Sperrins matter—not just to Ireland, but to the world.
Join us as we navigate the critical public inquiry process, unpack the environmental, cultural, and social stakes, and celebrate the people standing up for their communities and the planet. Each episode delivers powerful testimonies, actionable advice, and heartfelt stories that inspire hope and action.
Whether you’re a concerned local, an environmental advocate, or someone who simply loves nature, the Sperrins Podcast invites you to be part of this vital movement. Together, we can protect what truly matters.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 39 minutes
- Episodes
- 11
- Years Active
- 2025
#No.11 Hard-Earned Wisdom from Navan: A Conversation with Nuala and Mairéad Heaney
What 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…
#No.10 From Greencastle to the Council: Emmet McAleer on Speaking Truth to Power
From 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 t…
# No.9 Drawing the Line: Counter-Mapping the Sperrins with V’cenza Cirefice
In 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 energ…
#No.8 At the Doorstep of the Mine: Olivia and Tish on Protecting Greencastle’s Future
In 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 sp…
#No. 7 Human Rights in the Hills: Mary Lawlor on Defending the Defenders
Human 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 …
#No.6 This Is Our Land: The Hollywoods on Farming, Family and the Fight for the Sperrins
The 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 t…
#No. 5 Bridging Divides - Nature , Healing and Protecting the Sperrin Mountains
In this thoughtful and quietly powerful conversation, we speak with Dr Louise Taylor — a political researcher, ecotherapist, and member of the Unionist community — about her journey into the heart o…
#No. 4 Ten Years On: Reflections from the Heart of the Sperrins
About 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 som…
# No. 3 Ten Years On: Fidelma, Cormac, and the Power of Community
In 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…
#No. 2 Save Our Sperrins Podcast Special: What Happened at the Public Inquiry January 2025
In 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…
#No. 1 Introduction to Save Our Sperrins Podcast
In 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, …