Organised by the Derrylin Community Association, the meeting will take place at St Ninnidh’s Hall next Thursday, July 25th, at 8pm. While the meeting will not focus solely on the planned piggery, and will include guest speakers such as David Brown from the Ulster Farmers Union, the issue is a hot topic in the area at the moment and is expected to dominate the discussion. 

Almost 650 people have objected to an application for a shed to accommodate 1,000 fattener pigs on the Doon Road. Those against the plan are concerned about how close the planned pig farm will be to the heart of Derrylin. They fear it could cause noise, air and water pollution in the area. 

Francis Scallon is vice-chairman of the Derrylin Community Association, which was set up following the initial outpouring of concern over the planning application in May. He said many in the community were frustrated by the lack of progress being made on the application by planners. 

“We still haven’t seen any amendments that have been made, we’re trying to get more updates. Everything is going a lot slower than we thought it would,” he said. 

Mr Scallon has repeatedly stressed the community was not objecting to pig farms, but to the location of the one proposed. He said while hundreds had objected to the planning application,  there were some in the area who were not pleased with these objections. 

“I think some of the farmers are quite offended, but it’s not on their doorstep. If it was going to adversely affect them it would be different,” said Mr Scallon. 

Cllr Chris McCaffrey, who is from the area, has been assisting the association in its quest, and stressed the process had been a cross-community effort. 

“It’s an example of people power and what people can do when they put their minds to it,” he said.