No Mayo gold rush

No Mayo gold rush as licences refused


Campaigners welcome decision by Minister, while mining company considers its options

Neill O’Neill

CAMPAIGNERS opposed to gold mining in Mayo have scored a second major victory in 20 years, after Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan declined to grant prospecting licences to a company which sought to search for gold over a large area of south and west Mayo.
Late last year, Mayo’s Gold applied for eleven prospecting licences covering a large area between Westport and Louisburgh, which stretched from Drummin and Lankill just outside Westport, across 140 townlands – including some which run near Croagh Patrick.
With memories of the battle to stop gold mining on Croagh Patrick in the eighties still lingering in their minds, a group of local people – led once again by the Chairman of Mayo Environmental Group, Paddy Hopkins – began a concerted campaign of protest against the plans. Tourism bodies also made known their grave concerns at the plans, and Minister Ryan cited these as reasons for the refusal.
A statement issued by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources said that, having discussed the matter with local representatives, and with the applicant company, Minister Ryan decided not to grant the prospecting licences applied for in this case, in light of the objections received and given the importance of tourism to the region.
It is also stated that following the public consultation process in late 2007, the Minister became aware of considerable local opposition to prospecting for, and any subsequent production of, gold in the areas, and that he had received numerous objections to the possible granting of the prospecting licences. The objections mainly concerned the potential negative impact of the project on the general tourism offering in the area.
Veteran campaigner Paddy Hopkins welcomed the news and said he hoped such issues would not become a concern again.
“Minister Ryan has taken the strength and volume of the local objections on board and that has to be commended,” he said. “He may have been under pressure to grant these licences but tourism is the biggest industry in this region and this is a recognition of that. Had this project been mooted for the area around the lakes of Killarney it would not have been entertained. I am glad that this beautiful area of Mayo is now being considered in a similar light. A lot of people were caught up in these objections and they will all be delighted by this decision.”
A spokesperson for Mayo’s Gold, Wilson Robb, told The Mayo News the company had not received any statement about the Minister’s decision, and as such were not in a position to comment on it. He also said he was uncertain if the decision would signal the end of the company’s interest in the region for which they had sought prospecting licences.
In his statement, Minister Ryan emphasised that it is Government policy in Ireland to promote investment in mining that is compatible with sustainable development and assured environmental protection, and to maximise the contribution of mining to the national economy.
“Nevertheless, it must be shown that there are no significant risks of unnecessary impacts, or impacts which cannot be satisfactorily mitigated, which could outweigh the benefits of the development,” he concluded.