Galantas Gold shares leap after firm is granted planning consent on Irish gold mine

The planning consent will permit the continuation and expansion of gold mining and is expected to create hundreds of jobs locally.

The consent includes operating and environmental conditions, which the company anticipates mostly to be based upon guidance already noted in consultation.

The group's chief executive officer Roland Phelps said: "This is a significant milestone and a game changer for Galantas.

"Our open pit gold mine, operated until recently, is the only one in Ireland.

"It had excellent environmental standards, monitored with detailed studies by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and used a safe processing methodology to produce a smelter concentrate."

The share price had soared 28.85% to 7.57p by 13:59.