Free Republic

The Pope “would be totally opposed to the destruction of a sacred place” to mine gold, a priest told a public inquiry in Northern Ireland. Fermanagh priest Father Joe McVeigh made the claim as the potential cultural and heritage impacts of Dalradian Gold’s planning application were examined, the Detail website reported. The North American company hopes to mine gold, silver and other metals in the Sperrin Mountains designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for more than 20 years. Over three days this week, the Planning Appeals Commission heard witnesses on a number of topics, including a mass rock site cited...

An ancient folk remedy from County Fermanagh could help scientists in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria. According to local belief, the soil from a churchyard in Boho can cure infections. A microbiologist who took samples to see if there was any scientific basis for the cure has made an astonishing discovery. Dr Gerry Quinn found a unique strain of streptomyces, a microorganism used to produce antibiotics. It was found to kill the top three pathogens (organisms that cause disease) identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a major threat to human health. "When we brought the soil back to...