The Heart of the Sperrins - Appeal

Londonderry, Causeway Coast and Glens, United Kingdom

£1,870

Target: £20,000

We have raised 9% of our target 9%

20 supporters

55 days left


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Aim

Our voluntary group Save Benbradagh has taken a Judicial Review to protect the most valuable natural & cultural assets in the North Sperrins


Judicial Review to halt incongruous project

Our community, Causeway Coast & Glens Council & the HED (Historic Environment Division) opposed the development of the Magheramore Wind Farm in Banagher. We are calling on our community to support our campaign and our diaspora - Heaney’s, O’Kane’s, McCloskey’s and Mullan’s to name a few! 

Development rejected by Council 
The development was refused by the local CC&G Council given the highly sensitive environment, scenic beauty and many protections. It is located along the primary route between the two principal cities of Derry & Belfast. This serves to heighten the public interest and the unacceptability of the proposal.

Harm to ALL important assets 
Located in the heart of the Sperrins it will impact ALL our principal assets - Banagher Old Church & Tomb, Banagher Glen, Benbradagh mountain, Benedy Glen & will sit "oppressively over the town of Dungiven". The stunning panoramic views across the North West of Ireland from iconic Benbradagh mountain will be despoiled and all along the Benedy Glen from Glenshane to Dungiven.

Banagher Glen & Old Church
The tranquility and seclusion of the Glen and nearby medieval Church is why it has been preserved up until now. It gives us a glimpse into a lost landscape. One of the oldest ancient oak woodlands in Ireland, Banagher Glen Nature Reserve has been designated a European Area of Nature Conservation, one of only a few locations significant enough to attain that status throughout the province. The upper walkway at Banagher Glen will be adversely impacted and 0.4 Hectares of peatland will be temporarily and permanently destroyed.

Saints, myths & ritual
Aside from the natural beauty and ecological significance of the area, there is also a rich cultural history to be found involving mythical sea creature and the early Irish Saint Muiredach Ó hEanaigh (Heaney).

The ancient ritual of 'lifting the sand' from the Saint's tomb by a designated descendant of the Saint continues to this day! The sacred sand is believed to have curative properties and to be lucky in legal cases. 

Burden on Community 
Our community has taken on the enormous burden of challenging the decision of the Planning Appeals Commission to permit the development. The leave application for judicial review will be heard in the High Court in the coming weeks (June 2026). We need you to help us fund the legal action to hold the line for our community, environment,

Appeal 
Please donate & share the link.
Also follow us on the 'Save Benbradagh - public page’ on Facebook to keep up to date with the campaign.

We are the custodians and we must protect what is left of the beautiful place we call home.

Míle buíochas - One thousand thank yous 

From the heart of the Sperrins ❤️ 

Legal dispute

This project aims to raise funds to resolve a claim, or other type of dispute.

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Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 29th July 2026 at 1:35am


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