by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
‘WAKE up Inishowen!’ That was the stark message from
a local farmer ahead of a public meeting on the
issue of mining in Inishowen at Carrowmenagh
Community Centre tonight, April 23.
Chair of the Carndonagh and Community Rural
Development Company, Raymond Doherty said Inishowen
needs to make up its mind.
“We must decide whether we want tourism or mining. I
would urge everyone in Inishowen to object to the
granting of any prospecting licences,” he said.
The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural
Resources placed a notice in this newspaper last
week informing the public here of its intention to
grant prospecting licences for diamonds, gem
minerals and gold in North Inishowen to Grosvenor
Exploration and Mining Services, a County
Louth-based prospecting company. Members of the
public have until May 6, next, to lodge any
objections.
Mr Doherty urged local residents to attend tomorrow
night’s meeting to begin a campaign.
“Everyone should get together on this issue,
particularly the people of North Inishowen around
Moville and Carn. How many more surveys are going to
be allowed to be carried out here by companies
seeking to mine?” he asked.
“As a farmer you have very few rights if anything is
found on your land. A farmer only owns the top nine
inches of soil so a prospective mining company can
plough straight through.”
Mary Reilly, Inishowen Organic Group, said that any
future mining could have catastrophic consequences
for Inishowen.
“One can be assured that if gold or other minerals
are discovered in viable quantities in any of these
townlands, this discovery will then take precedence
over any environmental benefits we in Inishowen
currently enjoy and are trying to promote as a
tourism attraction,” she warned.
“Due to it's isolated position, Inishowen is a haven
for wildlife and a refuge for many individuals who
see it as one of very few truly unexploited areas
left in Western Europe, and it would be a great
misfortune if the extraction of gold and gem
minerals were to take priority over the natural
beauty which has been preserved here over hundreds
of years, before it ever reaches it's true potential
as an eco-tourism destination.
“I believe that the peninsula where I was born and
bred, Inishowen, does not deserve this kind of
upheaval. The environmental cost alone would be
stupendous, not to mention cost to community and
prosperity – because Inishowen will not even prosper
financially from any minerals or gems found in our
fields. Instead we will be left with broken dreams,
damaged communities and completely avoidable
environmental change which will be with us for
decades to come, while the mining company moves on
to fresh pastures,” Mary concluded.
Guest speaker at tonight’s meeting, which gets
underway in Carrowmenagh at 8.30pm, is Mike Doherty,
who will explain the possible consequences of any
future mining ventures. |
