Communities facing the threat of mining gathered at Cavancaw County Tyrone on Sunday to send a clear message to Canadian mining company Galantas (Flintridge Resources). that they have no mandate or consent from the people of Leitrim to mine for gold.
People gathered from all over the country at the gates of the Galantas Gold site just outside Omagh to voice their opposition to the carbon heavy, energy intensive extractive industry.
Concerns were raised by a variety of speakers on the day about the negative impact mining can have in terms of damage to air and water quality, destruction of the landscape and its effect upon efforts to fight against climate change.
Speakers included Eddie Mitchell and James Gilmartin from the recently formed Treasure Leitrim and Fidelma O Kane from Save Our Sperrins.
Those in attendance were also treated to music and song from a choir which lifted people’s spirits on a cold day at the gates of the site.
At the conclusion of the event Treasure Leitrim representative Jamie Murphy read a message from to Galantas informing the company that they had no invite or mandate to come to Leitrim.
The message was attached to the main entrance of the Galantas gate by Jamie Murphy and Cormac McAleer form Save Our Sperrins.
There was also a clear call on Minister Eamon Ryan to not grant a prospecting license to the company and to stand with communities who have clearly voiced their opposition to his intention to grant a prospecting license.
An objection to the granting of prospecting licenses to Flintridge Resources Ltd in County Leitrim includes 12 letters from potentially affected farmers and landowners claiming that there ‘has been no liaison’, let alone the ‘full consideration and close liaison with relevant landowners and regulatory authorities’ required by the Department’s Guidance for Good Environmental Practice in Mineral Exploration.
